Law firm Cleary Gottlieb hires Alsheimer for activism practice

Core Viewpoint - Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has strengthened its shareholder activism defense practice by hiring Sebastian Alsheimer, a seasoned attorney, as a partner to enhance its capabilities in protecting clients from corporate agitators [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Alsheimer will advise corporate clients such as 3M, Honeywell, and BlackRock on engaging with activist investors, reflecting the growing importance of shareholder engagement and activism defense for law firms and banks [2]. - Cleary is part of a trend among top law firms to expand their expertise in countering activist investors, with other firms like Sullivan & Cromwell and Paul, Weiss also making similar strategic hires [4]. Group 2: Alsheimer's Background - Alsheimer previously worked at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he defended clients like Autodesk and BlackLine against activist investors such as Starboard Value [3]. - He has a notable history of representing both companies and activist investors, having worked with Elliott Investment Management and Starboard during his tenure at Olshan Frome Wolosky [3]. - Alsheimer holds degrees from prestigious institutions including Harvard, Oxford, Columbia, and Yale, positioning him as a leading figure in activism defense [5].