Share profile
Up and Coming
Provided by 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
Provided by Chambers
Evan Johnson focuses his practice on helping clients prepare for and respond to shareholder activism, proxy fights and hostile takeovers.
Provided by Chambers
I am amazed by his technical legal expertise and ability to deliver that in a way myself and my business colleagues can understand.
He provides clients with holistic perspectives and candid advice in stressful situations, and does so with a calm confidence.
He is incredibly responsive and handles extremely complex issues for us.
Evan is a really strong, very thoughtful attorney. He is a great collaborator and gives incredibly strong and strategic counsel.
He turns this around to help companies defend themselves very effectively.
I am amazed by his technical legal expertise and ability to deliver that in a way myself and my business colleagues can understand.
He provides clients with holistic perspectives and candid advice in stressful situations, and does so with a calm confidence.
He is incredibly responsive and handles extremely complex issues for us.
Evan is a really strong, very thoughtful attorney. He is a great collaborator and gives incredibly strong and strategic counsel.
He turns this around to help companies defend themselves very effectively.