NEW YORK (APRIL 23, 2025) – Sullivan & Cromwell announced today that Lawrence Elbaum and Patrick Gadson, two preeminent shareholder activism lawyers, will join the firm April 29 as partners in its New York office and corporate governance practice, strengthening S&C’s shareholder activism and hostile takeover defense capabilities.
“Lawrence and Patrick are two of the country’s most respected lawyers in shareholder activism,” said Sullivan & Cromwell Co-Chairs Robert Giuffra and Scott Miller. “They will strengthen our ability to help our clients navigate the most challenging activist situations and contested transactions.”
Mr. Elbaum and Mr. Gadson have been recognized as leading legal and business strategists, advising public companies of all sizes in a wide range of activism defense preparation, director nominations, proxy fights, short attacks and other special situations. Mr. Elbaum and Mr. Gadson have led over 300 activism defense engagements for public companies. Recently, Mr. Elbaum and Mr. Gadson have assisted public company clients in engagement with high-profile shareholder activists such as Elliott Management, Starboard Value, Carl Icahn, D.E. Shaw, Corvex Management, Engaged Capital, Ancora Advisors and Third Point.
Mr. Elbaum is ranked as one of the top lawyers by Chambers USA for Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense and has been selected by The Legal 500 as a “Leading Partner/Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards.”
“I am thrilled to join Sullivan & Cromwell’s elite corporate practice, which has a demonstrated track record of advising on the most complex matters,” said Mr. Elbaum. “Patrick and I look forward to bringing our activism and governance expertise to S&C’s deep bench of practitioners. We believe the value proposition for S&C’s clients will be unparalleled.”
Mr. Gadson is also ranked as one of the top practitioners by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense, and has been selected by The Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Partner/Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards.”
“Sullivan & Cromwell is the go-to firm for business-critical special situations,” said Mr. Gadson. “I am excited to partner with S&C’s talented activism and governance lawyers to continue deploying bespoke defense strategies for our clients. I am also excited to continue my partnership with Lawrence and to collaborate closely with the rest of the S&C worldwide partnership.”
“Lawrence and Patrick are joining a team of talented lawyers across our 13 worldwide offices,” said Melissa Sawyer and Marc Treviño, co-heads of S&C’s Corporate Governance practice. “Recognizing that the landscape for shareholder activism has changed dramatically and continues to evolve in important ways, fluency in the activist defense playbook is critical to S&C’s ability to serve our clients at the highest level possible.”
The addition of Mr. Elbaum and Mr. Gadson reflects S&C’s continued commitment to having the preeminent corporate governance practice among top international law firms, and cements S&C’s position as one of the leading firms with most lawyers ranked in Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense. Blending Mr. Elbaum and Mr. Gadson with S&C’s existing resources positions the firm to offer clients an unparalleled platform to handle the most complex corporate crisis situations.
About Sullivan & Cromwell’s Corporate Governance Practice
Sullivan & Cromwell offers clients an understanding of corporate governance requirements, practices and trends built over decades of experience. In every area of corporate governance—from regular disclosures to extraordinary activist campaigns and policy matters—our Corporate Governance Practice delivers market-leading expertise.
About Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is a global law firm that advises on major domestic and cross-border M&A; significant litigation and corporate investigations; finance and corporate transactions; and complex antitrust, regulatory, tax and estate planning matters. The firm’s hallmarks are the highest-quality independent advice and intense dedication to solving client problems. Founded in 1879, Sullivan & Cromwell has more than 900 lawyers located in offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Palo Alto, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney.