Elizabeth Bieber, counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US
Elizabeth ('Leza') is counsel with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US global transactions group, based in New York. Leza focuses on activism and takeover defense preparedness, and plays a leadership role on corporate governance issues.
Leza regularly works with executive management teams, boards and their committees charged with governance and defense preparedness and is a recognized thought leader on governance matters.
Phil Denning, partner, ICR
Phil is co-head of the firm’s special situations group and head of the firm’s real estate, financial & professional services, aerospace & defense, and energy corporate communications industry groups. He is experienced in shaping investor expectations, interpreting performance, and communicating strategy. With over 20 years experience, Phil has advised a wide range of public and private companies and their boards on corporate communications, transaction communications, media relations, crisis communications, and investor relations.
Phil counsels directors and executives on communicating mergers, acquisitions, activist and short defense campaigns, executive transitions, proxy contests, IPOs, restructurings, litigation and regulatory investigations. Recent engagements include voxeljet’s IPO, lululemon athletica on product quality concerns, Furniture Brands on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and sale, Sourcefire on a CEO transition, TRI Pointe Homes merger with Weyerhaeuser’s home building business, The Tile Shop on a short defense, and Cardtronics on litigation support.
Edward Greene, managing director, Georgeson
Edward Greene is a proxy and governance expert with experience guiding issuers through complex proxy solicitation campaigns and providing companies with the shareholder data, trends and analytics that allow them to employ practices that support good governance.
Edward has been involved in over 200 proxy solicitation campaigns and has led clients to successful outcomes in various matters relating to executive compensation, corporate governance and shareholder activism. He provides year-round corporate governance advisory services and has helped many Russell 3000 and Fortune 500 companies make smarter governance decisions.
Prior to joining Georgeson, Edward oversaw the Kingsdale U.S. research team as vice president of research. He also served as vice president of governance at AST Phoenix Advisors and vice president at Laurel Hill Advisory Group. He started his governance career at Georgeson.
Edward is a member of the Society for Corporate Governance.
Moderator: Ben Maiden, editor-at-large, Corporate Secretary
Ben Maiden is the editor-a-large of Corporate Secretary, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. He had previously been managing editor of Compliance Reporter since January 2007, covering regulatory and compliance issues affecting broker-dealers and asset management firms. Before that, Ben was editor of International Financial Law Review and IFLR’s Americas editor, working in London and New York.
