Bio

Douglas Schnell is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he practices corporate and securities law. Doug focuses his practice on shareholder activism, mergers and acquisitions (both negotiated and contested), and corporate governance. Throughout his career, he has been involved in some of the most transformative transactions in the technology industry, including representing Twitter in its acquisition by Elon Musk and LinkedIn in its acquisition by Microsoft, as well as Yahoo! in its proxy contest defense and subsequent settlement agreement with Starboard and Twitter in its shareholder activism defense against Elliott Management. Wilson Sonsini is consistently ranked as one of the most active firms for shareholder activism defense, and Doug is a leader in the firm’s practice. Doug has been involved in dozens of activist campaigns and proxy contests in various advisory and principal capacities. He regularly represents clients in connection with all aspects of shareholder activism and shareholder engagement, including in proxy solicitations and other contests for corporate control and in Rule 14a-8 shareholder proposals. Doug has also advised numerous companies with respect to the design and implementation of shareholder rights plans and other corporate protective measures. Doug represents acquirers, targets, and financial advisors in U.S. and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, takeovers (both negotiated and contested), leveraged buyouts, and other corporate transactions. He has a particular emphasis on the representation of public companies and their boards of directors in sale processes (to both strategic and financial acquirers). Doug also counsels companies and investors with regard to complex corporate governance, SEC compliance, 1934 Act disclosure, and other corporate and securities law matters. In 2018, Doug was selected by the Daily Journal for inclusion on its "Top 40 Under 40" list of California's leading lawyers.