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Lawrence S. Elbaum
Lawrence S. Elbaum
Partner — Shareholder Activism
E: lelbaum@velaw.com T: +1.212.237.0084
VCard BIO PDF
Partner — Shareholder Activism

Lawrence S. Elbaum

Lawrence S. Elbaum
New York
T: +1.212.237.0084
F: +1.917.849.5379

The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, NY 10036

E: lelbaum@velaw.com
VCard BIO PDF
start quote symbolClients look to us to provide unparalleled guidance and judgment when board control and the strategic direction of a company are at stake. When there’s no time to look up answers, our highly skilled team of shareholder activism specialists has the unique ability to hit the ground running, overcome obstacles, and drive successful outcomes.end quote symbol
Lawrence S. Elbaum

Lawrence Elbaum is the co-head of V&E’s Shareholder Activism practice. He leverages more than fifteen years of experience as a securities attorney and business advisor to counsel senior management and boards of public companies with respect to proxy fights, merger contests, consent solicitations, “Withhold the Vote” or “Vote No” campaigns, precatory proposals and short attacks, as well as an array of complex corporate governance matters.

Over the past six proxy seasons, Lawrence has led over 190 activism defense engagements for public companies of all sizes and across all industries. He regularly defends clients against high-profile shareholder activists such as Starboard Value, Elliott Management, Carl Icahn, Engaged Capital, Jana Partners, Value Act, and Legion Partners. He also represents select investors in strategic investments and activism campaigns against public companies.

“[Lawrence] brings a combination of deep experience, valuable insights and a collaborative mindset. I am very impressed with his level of engagement, accessibility, and helpfulness.” – Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (New York), 2021

Throughout Lawrence’s leadership of the Shareholder Activism practice, the team has been ranked the top firm for shareholder activism defense for company and board representation by Bloomberg, Refinitiv, Activist Insight, and FactSet. Chambers USA 2021 lists Lawrence as a leading practitioner in its category for “Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (New York)” and The Legal 500 U.S. ranked our Shareholder Activism practice among the top law firms from 2019 – 2021 in the “Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards” category. Additionally, Lawrence was highlighted as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 in 2020 and has been named finalist for “Dealmaker of the Year” as part of The Deal Awards 2019. In 2018, the New York Law Journal gave Lawrence the “Rising Star” award, which honors the most promising attorneys in New York’s legal community under the age of 40 who have influenced their practice areas in New York and around the country.

Outside of the office, Lawrence works with organizations to promote gender and ethnic diversity in public company boardrooms across Corporate America. He also devotes significant efforts to pro bono work, including having represented battered and indigent women in connection with divorce, alimony, and child custody and support proceedings in New York City. In addition, he supports a host of regional, national and global charities, including various Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention initiatives, The Boys and Girls Club of America and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.

Experience Highlights

  • Fiesta Restaurant Group in the defense of a threatened proxy fight by AREX Capital Management, LP

  • Primo Water in the defense of the activism campaign by Legion Partners Asset Management

  • Lumber Liquidators Holdings in the defense of the shareholder activism campaigns by F9 Investments and Rizzi Capital

  • FedNat Holding Company in the defense of the proxy fight by Capital Returns Management

  • Owens Realty Mortgage in its proxy contest defense against Hovde Capital Advisors and Opal Advisors

  • Blackwells Capital in its proxy contest against Supervalu Inc.

  • Sandridge Energy in its proxy contest defense against Carl Icahn and in the defense of the unsolicited bid of Midstates Petroleum

  • BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. in its proxy contest defense against Broadfin Capital

  • Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., in connection with investments by Piton Capitol and Pacific View Asset Management

  • Goodrich Petroleum in connection with investments by Anchorage Capital and Gen IV Investment Opportunities

  • Contango Oil and Gas in connection with the investment of Goff Capital

  • Fiesta Restaurant Group in its proxy contest defense against JCP, BLR Capital and Lake Trail 

  • Rice Energy in its $6.7 billion merger with EQT Corporation, which was approved despite opposition from activist JANA partners

  • Matrix Service Company in its proxy contest defense against Engine Capital

Credentials

  • Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 2005
  • Cornell University, B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations, 2002
  • Lawrence served as the Litigation designee for an AmLaw 100 law firm’s Pro Bono Initiative Committee, where he assisted with the intake and supervision of scores of pro bono matters. Lawrence also has directly handled an array of pro bono assignments over the years, ranging from assisting Holocaust survivors in obtaining reparations from Germany to representing indigent and disabled women in child custody, child support and divorce disputes.
  • Legal 500 U.S., M&A/Corporate & Commercial – Shareholder Activism: Advice to Boards, 2019 – 2021, “Next Generation Lawyer,” 2020, “Next Generation Partner,” 2021; Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2019
  • Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (New York), 2021
  • Selected to the New York Metro Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2015 – 2020
  • Golda Och Academy “Distinguished Alumni Award,” 2012
  • The Brooklyn Law School “Outstanding Civic Leadership Award,” 2012
  • The Brooklyn Family Defense Project “Family Defender Award,” 2012
  • New York Legal Assistance Group “Pro Bono Advocacy Award,” 2010
  • The Sanctuary for Families “Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy Award,” 2009
  • Trustee: Golda Och Academy, 2010 – 2017
  • Alumni Society Founder/Co-Chair: Golda Och Academy, 2007 – 2017
  • Co-Founder: The Albert Einstein College of Medicine Young Leadership Board
  • New York
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • “What Should Issues Care About,” 2019 Corporate Governance Forum, November 20, 2019
  • “Managing Activists,” NACD North Texas Chapter Series, November 12, 2019
  • “Navigating Investor Activism,” Latino Corporate Directors Association Annual Board Leaders Convening, October 18, 2019
  • “Shareholder Activism,” NACD Director Professionalism, August 14, 2019
  • “Shareholder Activism Bootcamp,” WCD South Florida Chapter Meeting, May 7, 2019
  • “Shareholder Activism Bootcamp,” WCD Silicon Valley Chapter Meeting, January 23, 2019
  • “Shareholder Activism: Managing & Mitigating Risks in 2018,” March 6, 2018 (speaker)
  • “Condensed Activism Bootcamp,” Corporate Governance Ohio Chapter Meeting, October 26, 2017 (speaker)
  • “Mock Proxy Fight – So You Think You’re Ready for a Fight?” October 5, 2017 (speaker)
  • “Rising Activism in the REIT World,” The BMO Capital Markets 12th Annual Real Estate Conference, September 26, 2017 (panelist)
  • “Think Twice Before Settling With An Activist, “ Law360, December 9, 2016
  • “Renewable Energy,” Activist Insight Monthly, October 2016 (co-interviewee with Kai Liekefett)

News & Insights

Insight
Shareholder Activism Rebounds in 2021: Lawrence Elbaum on Bloomberg TV
January 12, 2022
Video
Rankings & Awards
Vinson & Elkins' Shareholder Activism Defense Practice Ranked #1 Globally by Bloomberg
January 4, 2022
Rankings & Awards
Vinson & Elkins Wins Top Shareholder Activism Defense Practice Award from Activist Insight for Unprecedented Sixth Consecutive Year
December 15, 2021
Insight
SEC Makes Early Holiday Moves with Universal Proxy Adoption

V&E SEC Proxy Update

November 24, 2021