Patrick Gadson

General Practice, Shareholder Activism Defense, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Crisis Management, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity

Patrick is Co-Head of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Shareholder Activism practice, and a partner in the Firm’s M&A Group. Patrick’s principal areas of practice are private equity, mergers and acquisitions and shareholder activism. He also counsels senior management, boards of directors, investment managers and both private equity and strategic investors in a wide variety of complex business transactions, corporate governance matters, strategic investor relations and other special situations. His experience includes advising clients in connection with shareholder activism related investments, hostile takeovers, public and private M&A transactions, strategic minority investments and corporate capital investments.

Over the past 10 proxy seasons, Patrick has led/co-led over 400 shareholder activism engagements. He regularly defends clients against high-profile shareholder activists such as Starboard Value, Elliott Management, Carl Icahn, Engaged Capital, Jana Partners, ValueAct Capital, Legion Partners, Corvex Management and D.E. Shaw & Co.