Sarah E. Fortt
Sarah’s practice is focused on board-level matters. She regularly engages with boards, public and private, on matters regarding corporate governance, disclosure and regulation, and provides board education, representation and engagement on topics including corporate culture and disclosure, reporting requirements, “ESG” (environmental, social and governance) matters, investor engagement, board composition and board and c-suite succession planning and transition management. Sarah also assists boards in assessing their readiness to address corporate crises, including cybersecurity incidents and investor activism, and advises real time on company crises and board investigations. Sarah is a founding member of Vinson & Elkins’ ESG Taskforce and is also an experienced securities lawyer with a background in executive compensation.
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Experience Highlights
Presentations to S&P 500 boards of directors on corporate governance matters and key governance developments, including insights on crisis management, succession planning, risk oversight, executive compensation, board communications and materials, and shareholder relations
Support to companies ranging from the newly public to Fortune 100 in their preparation for their annual shareholders’ meetings, including addressing shareholder activism and proposals, drafting and reviewing proxy statement disclosure and assisting with shareholder engagement efforts
Policy statements for trade groups and thought leaders regarding corporate governance and comment letters to the Securities and Exchange Commission on key governance developments
Ongoing governance support for dozens of corporations, including conflict of interest considerations, director independence analysis and implementation of governance policies and procedures
Detailed analyses of current practices and compilation of governance recommendations for nonprofit and charitable organizations
Credentials
- Yale Law School, J.D., 2010 (Editor, Yale Journal on Regulation)
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Texas
- Event RecapJune 30, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseApril 21, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseApril 16, 2020
- Event RecapWednesday, April 8, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseMarch 30, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseMarch 17, 2020
- InsightMarch 17, 2020
- Coronavirus: Preparation & ResponseMarch 12, 2020
- Energy EvolutionFebruary 10, 2020
- Event RecapFebruary 10, 2020 - February 12, 2020
- Energy EvolutionJanuary 15, 2020
- Energy EvolutionNovember 18, 2019
- InsightNovember 12, 2019
V&E SEC Update
- Energy EvolutionSeptember 11, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceSeptember 6, 2019
- InsightSeptember 5, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Energy EvolutionAugust 29, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 16, 2019
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceMay 7, 2019
- Energy EvolutionApril 29, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Energy EvolutionApril 19, 2019
- V&E+April 17, 2019
- Event RecapJanuary 30, 2019
- InsightJanuary 10, 2019
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceDecember 18, 2018
- Event RecapDecember 12, 2018
- InsightNovember 30, 2018
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Event RecapNovember 1, 2018
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceOctober 9, 2018
- Deals & CasesSeptember 28, 2018
- InsightSummer 2018
Governance and Disclosure
- InsightSummer 2018
Governance and Disclosure
- InsightSeptember 19, 2018
V&E SEC Update
- V&E+September 14, 2018
- InsightSeptember 6, 2018
V&E SEC Update
- InsightSeptember 5, 2018
First published in NACD BoardTalk
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceAugust 21, 2018
- InsightSummer 2018
Governance and Disclosure
- Deals & CasesJuly 30, 2018
- InsightJuly 2, 2018
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- Deals & CasesMay 21, 2018
- Energy EvolutionMay 8, 2018
- Energy EvolutionApril 27, 2018
- Event RecapMarch 29, 2018
- InsightFebruary 26, 2018
V&E SEC Update E-communication
- Managing the Modern WorkplaceJanuary 30, 2018
- InsightJanuary 24, 2018
V&E Corporate Governance Update E-communication
- InsightDecember 21, 2017
V&E Corporate Governance Update
- InsightDecember 14, 2017
First published by Law360
- Event RecapNovember 30, 2017
- InsightNovember 17, 2017
- InsightNovember 17, 2017
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Houston Office, June 12, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Dallas Office, June 5, 2019 (speaker)
- “The Gatekeepers’ Course: Navigating Evolving Trends in Corporate Governance and Compliance,” V&E Austin Office, May 28, 2019 (speaker)
- “Building and Overseeing Effective Compliance and Corporate Governance,” January 30, 2019 (speaker)
- “The New Governance: Navigating the Rising ESG Tide,” V&E Houston Office, December 12, 2018 (speaker)
- “Strategic Preparation for the 2019 10-K and Proxy Season,” V&E Houston Office, December 6, 2018 (speaker)
- “Cyber-Governance: Legal Considerations for Cyber Disclosure and Preparedness,” V&E Houston Office, November 1, 2018 (speaker)
- “Advising the Board on Crisis Management,” CRE.Converge 2018, October 17, 2018 (panelist)
- “Diversity Matters: Making the Most of Board Diversity,” V&E Houston Office, March 29, 2018 (panelist)
- “Strategic Preparation for the 2018 10-K and Proxy Season,” November 30, 2017 (speaker)
- “Tenth SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal Bulletin on Rule 14a-8 Creates New Paths to Omit Shareholder Proposals,” V&E SEC Update E-communication, November 6, 2017 (co-author)
- “Three Hot Proxy Season Topics: Expert’s View,” Labrador, October 26, 2017
- “Governance and Disclosure: 2017 Season Lessons, 2018 Season Expectations,” V&E Houston Office, May 10, 2017 (speaker)
- “The Drawbacks of Clawbacks,” The Wall Street Lawyer, June 2014 (co-authored)