We offer practical advice on strategic and sensitive matters and day-to-day considerations, to help you stay ahead of the curve

Our integrated offering covers everyday issues as well as time-sensitive, event-driven challenges. We combine current best practices with pragmatic advice, bringing our judgment to help clients address a broad range of issues, from everyday governance questions to delicate situations that pose reputational, regulatory or liability risks.

We do not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather provide tailored guidance at every stage of a company’s life cycle, including advising:

  • Public companies of various sizes on routine reporting and disclosure obligations, compensation and benefits programs, stakeholder engagement and ESG trends and developments, and strategy and execution on crisis management, litigation and activism scenarios.
  • Private companies at varying stages of growth on devising size-and-stage-appropriate governance (including dual class and public benefit corporation matters), structuring compensation and benefits programs, managing data governance and ethics, and transitioning from private to public.
  • Boards of directors on satisfying their fiduciary duties in connection with critical, high-profile issues and oversight in an environment where the risk landscape is constantly evolving.

Our integrated corporate advisory and governance offering includes:

  • Public and private company corporate governance matters.
  • Reporting and disclosure obligations.
  • Compensation and benefits programs.
  • Succession planning.
  • Shareholder engagement and activism defense and preparation.
  • Board and committee advice.
  • Shareholder litigation.
  • Capital markets and securities offerings.
  • Data privacy, data protection, and data governance and ethics.
  • Cybersecurity risk mitigation and response.
  • Investigations and crisis management.
  • Strategic and related party transactions.
  • ESG and sustainability advice.

Our thinking
Feb 13 2025
Freshfields' geopolitical monitor
Geopolitical risks are a significant concern for businesses and investors in the current global landscape. Understanding these risks is...
Jan 17 2025
Clarifications to Recent Developments on Section 162(m)
Introduction On January 14, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the U.S. Treasury Department (the “Treasury Department”)...
Dec 19 2024
Navigating Legal Complexities in Cross-Border Supply Chain Investigations
Internal investigations serve as a fundamental tool for companies to detect, stop and remediate non-compliance incidents within their...
Dec 17 2024
Another Blow to ESG Mandates: Fifth Circuit Appeals Court Vacates Nasdaq Diversity Rules
On December 11, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“Fifth Circuit”), in an en banc rehearing of Alliance for...
Dec 16 2024
Financial rewards for whistleblowers in the UK - the calls for reform grow louder
The drumbeat of calls for the UK to introduce a programme of whistleblower incentivisation continues to grow louder.  In our view, a...
Oct 18 2024
SEC Enforcement Action Provides Reminder to Public Companies: Be Careful What You Disclose on Social Media
A recent enforcement action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) offers an important reminder for public companies,...
Oct 11 2024
"Guidelines not rules" - our take on the Investment Association updated Principles of Remuneration
On 8 October, the Investment Association (IA) published its updated Principles of Remuneration (the Principles) following the review...
Oct 10 2024
California’s Climate Rules Move Ahead, with Minor Amendments
On September 27, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed minor amendments (SB 219) to California’s landmark 2023 Climate Accountability...