Andrew Freedman Spotlighted in 13D Monitor’s May 2026 Activist Report: “10 Questions with Andrew Freedman”

Olshan Co-Managing Partner and Chair of the firm’s Shareholder Activism Practice Andrew Freedman was spotlighted in 13D Monitor’s May 2026 Activist Report in an interview entitled “10 Questions with Andrew Freedman.” In the interview, Andy explained why Olshan’s top-ranked Shareholder Activism Practice exclusively represents activist investors. He also explained why activists still launch campaigns despite difficult voting odds, and he notes that pass-through voting initiatives and changes at firms like Vanguard could make institutional voting more receptive to activist arguments going forward. When asked why companies are still surprised by activist campaigns and if they should be surprised at all, Andy responded, “We’re at the point by now where no company should be surprised when they are approached by an activist investor. We know that many companies are conducting off-season activist preparedness sessions with advisors where they are being educated on ‘how to be their own activist.’ Yet very few of these companies end up proactively addressing the potential vulnerabilities that are raised.” On how the universal proxy card has changed activism, Andy acknowledged that it “has been one of the most significant structural changes to the proxy contest landscape in decades,” but he dispels a key misconception of the universal proxy system: “In no way has the universal proxy served to open the flood gates to waves of proxy contests by small mom-and-pop investors. This notion completely ignored the fact that you have to submit a nomination notice, file and clear your own proxy materials with the SEC and disseminate proxy materials to holders representing at least 67% of the outstanding shares. It takes substantial resources to undertake these activities. It’s not like you can just raise your hand, provide some names and get access to a company’s proxy.” Andy also shares his thoughts on whether proxy advisors are losing influence, how traditional activists differ from occasional activist investors, what keeps engagements from escalating into proxy fights, what he considers the most underappreciated trend in activism, and what has stood out to him during the 2026 proxy season.

You can read Andy’s full interview here.