by David Katz, Elina Tetelbaum, and Loren Braswell
From left to right: David Katz, Elina Tetelbaum, and Loren Braswell (photos courtesy of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz)
Shareholder activism is at record levels and is no longer limited to the “proxy season.” Dozens of U.S. activist situations are underway for 2026 annual meetings, well before the windows for nominations open at most targeted companies. Activists are preparing for the fall conference circuit at which they will debut many of their 2026 campaigns, already working behind the scenes at companies by contacting their management, directors, investors, employees, sell-side analysts, and other key constituencies. Here are ten trends to expect for the year ahead.
