A prominent US lawyer has said that Japanese companies remain insufficiently prepared to respond to activists. As activist developments increasingly affect Japanese companies as well, the state of their preparedness is being called into question.
Activist activity is intensifying in both Japan and the United States, increasing the importance of shareholder engagement and defense measures in the US. The trend is expected to affect Japanese companies as well, with the response of corporate boards identified as a key challenge.
Elina Tetelbaum, a lawyer at US law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (WLRK), said she believes Japanese companies are “still insufficiently prepared” to respond to activists. She advises on shareholder engagement and defense measures, and handles matters involving proxy contests, takeover defense and corporate governance.
Tetelbaum graduated from Harvard University and Yale Law School. As a partner at WLRK, she supports the boards of Japanese companies in addressing the activism they face.