Shaun Mathew

Shaun is a corporate partner and a leader of Kirkland’s Shareholder Activism & Hostile Takeover Defense practice, which was recognized by its peers as the #1 activism defense law firm practice in 2025. Shaun has been recognized as among the top 500 lawyers in the United States, across all practice areas, and has been profiled as one of “13 lawyers on speed-dial when companies and investors fight for boardroom control.”

Shaun counsels public companies and their boards in defending live proxy fights, negotiating truces with activist hedge funds, responding to short attacks, defending M&A deals against activist opposition, as well as guiding companies through complex corporate governance and other crisis matters.

He has defended clients against campaigns mounted by a number of activist investors including Elliott Management, Starboard Value, Politan Capital Management, Carl Icahn and JANA Partners.

Shaun is a frequent speaker on shareholder activism and corporate governance. He has appeared on Bloomberg TV and has guest lectured at Harvard Law School and the University of Michigan Law School, among others. His articles have been featured in Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, and he has been quoted in leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The New York Times, The Deal and Law360.

Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude; New York University, B.A., Economics & Politics, summa cum laude