Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is an experienced name for advising boards of directors and executive management under threat from shareholder activism. The group is adept at giving preventative advice to protect against activist attacks, and when campaigns take place the team has strength both in settlements and proxy fights. The practice has historically acted for some of the largest global corporations in a spread of sectors, including recently acting for Disney in a proxy contest. Robert Townsend is the leading figure in the New York-based practice and focuses on activist defense as well as M&A and general corporate governance. He is supported by more junior partner Daniel Cerqueira, whose practice has a similar breadth of expertise across corporate and M&A. Other notable contacts are presiding partner Faiza Saeed; corporate head Mark Greene; George Schoen, who co-leads the global M&A practice with Townsend; and EMEA M&A practice head Richard Hall.