Evan Johnson

Evan Johnson is a corporate partner in Kirkland’s M&A group and a core member of its Shareholder Activism & Hostile Takeover Defense practice, which peers have recognized as the #1 or #2 activism defense law firm in the two most recent years.

Evan advises public companies and boards on their most significant activism and takeover defense, contested M&A, equity special situations, crisis and corporate governance matters. He has worked on over 200 activism situations, including public campaigns involving virtually every major activist investor and 90% of U.S.-focused activists in the Sharkwatch 50 key activists list. He also counsels closed-end funds and BDCs on responding to activists and helps companies navigate short reports from prominent short sellers.

His activism defense advice is informed by his prior experience advising hedge funds and other investors on activism campaigns and proxy contests. Evan brings a unique perspective as one of the only attorneys to have ever represented both companies and dissident shareholders on the full range of contested situations, including special-meeting, written-consent and withhold-the-vote proxy contests, unsolicited M&A, competing public bids, and hostile tender and exchange offers.

Cornell Law School J.D., Cornell Law Review; Bethel University B.A., Philosophy with Honors