Bio

Lawrence Elbaum is the co-head of V&E’s Shareholder Activism practice and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He leverages nearly two decades of experience as a securities attorney and business advisor to counsel senior management and boards of public companies with respect to proxy fights, merger contests, consent solicitations, “Withhold the Vote” or “Vote No” campaigns, precatory proposals and short attacks, as well as an array of complex corporate governance matters. Over the past ten proxy seasons, Lawrence has led nearly 300 activism defense engagements for public companies of all sizes and across all industries. He regularly defends clients against high-profile shareholder activists such as Starboard Value, Elliott Management, Carl Icahn, Engaged Capital, Jana Partners, Value Act, and Legion Partners. He also represents select investors in strategic investments and activism campaigns against public companies. “[Lawrence] brings a combination of deep experience, valuable insights and a collaborative mindset. I am very impressed with his level of engagement, accessibility, and helpfulness.” – Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (New York), 2021. Throughout Lawrence’s leadership of the Shareholder Activism practice, the team has been ranked the top firm for shareholder activism defense for company and board representation by Bloomberg, Refinitiv, Activist Insight, and FactSet. Chambers USA 2021–2023 lists Lawrence as a leading practitioner in its category for “Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense (New York)” and The Legal 500 U.S. recognized Lawrence as a Leading Lawyer in 2023. The Legal 500 U.S. also ranked our Shareholder Activism practice among the top law firms from 2019–2023 in the “Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards” category. Vinson & Elkins is the only law firm to secure a #1 ranking in both The Legal 500 U.S. and Chambers USA for our Shareholder Activism Defense practice in 2022. Additionally, Lawrence has been named a finalist for “Dealmaker of the Year” as part of The Deal Awards 2019. In 2018, the New York Law Journal gave Lawrence the “Rising Star” award, which honors the most promising attorneys in New York’s legal community under the age of 40 who have influenced their practice areas in New York and around the country. Outside of the office, Lawrence works with organizations to promote gender and ethnic diversity in public company boardrooms across Corporate America. He also devotes significant efforts to pro bono work, including having represented battered and indigent women in connection with divorce, alimony, and child custody and support proceedings in New York City. In addition, he supports a host of regional, national and global charities, including various Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention initiatives, The Boys and Girls Club of America and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.