Webinar Details

Shareholder activism events present unique challenges to independent directors, often requiring directors to balance competing stakeholder interests in the context of a hostile situation. Our panelists will provide practical tips & strategies on what board members should be thinking about when such events arise, as well as address common concerns independent directors may have regarding risks and liabilities and how to manage them.

Topics to be discussed will include:

  • Common forms of shareholder activism
  • The role of independent directors and common sources of conflict between independent directors and both activists and non-independent board members
  • How to help navigate a company through an activist event – stakeholder communications
  • How to mitigate risks and liabilities relating to activism when waters are calm

Moderator & Panelists

  • Gregory Peterson (Head, Calgary Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group; at Gowling WLG)

    Gregory Peterson

    Head, Calgary Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group; at Gowling WLG

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-peterson-2329571b/?originalSubdomain=ca

    Greg Peterson is a senior partner at Gowling WLG and head of the firm’svCorporate Finance, M&A and PrivatevEquity Group in the firm’s Calgary office.

    Recognized as leader in his field by Chambers Canada and Legal 500, Greg focuses his practice on complex public and private corporate and commercial matters. Over the course of his 30-year career, he has helped clients navigate a range of high-stakes transactions—including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations, plans of arrangement, going private transactions, private placements, and asset and share purchase and sale agreements.

    Greg also has significant executive experience in adjusting both private and public companies at all stages of their development, from initial public offerings to large corporate clients with multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations. He complements this experience with an extensive background in private equity transactions and public financings, including equity, debt and venture capital financings.

    A former defensive back with the Calgary Stampeders, Greg approaches the legal obstacles his clients face with a keen sense of strategy, coordination and business fundamentals. His practice caters equally to Canadian companies and foreign companies doing business in Canada, which together represent a rich cross-section of global industry sectors—including energy, technology, cannabis, manufacturing, life sciences, biotech and sports law.

    Greg has acted as a director and/or officer for many of his clients, providing advice on matters relating to corporate governance, stock exchange listings, regulatory compliance for multi-jurisdictional situations and conflict of interest situations. He has also acted as counsel to special committees of various boards of directors in situations such as corporate reorganizations, whether the transaction involved an amalgamation, plan of arrangement or take-over bid and conflict of interest situation.

    Outside of his practice, Greg has served—and continues to serve—on many committees and advisory councils. He is especially active as a volunteer in charitable and minor sports organizations, acting as the president and director of many associations and nonprofit groups. Harnessing his professional football background, Greg has also served as a colour commentator for Stampeders’ games for more than two decades and regularly provides pregame and postgame analysis for radio broadcasts.

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  • Alyssa Barry (Principal & Co-Founder of irlabs)

    Alyssa Barry

    Principal & Co-Founder of irlabs

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssabarrycpir/?originalSubdomain=ca

    Alyssa is a Principal and Co-Founder at irlabs. She has over 15-years of investor relations, capital markets and corporate communications experience. An activist by nature, she has raised over $1 billion of capital, led some of Canada’s most successful activism campaigns, managed M&A transactions and enhanced board governance frameworks. She was formerly Head of Strategy – Operations and Communications at Artis REIT, Vice-President of Capital Markets and Communications at Sandpiper Group and Manager, Investor Relations at Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. She is known for her agility, creative prose and relentless pursuit of success for her clients.

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  • Jacob Cawker (Partner at Gowling WLG)

    Jacob Cawker

    Partner at Gowling WLG

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-cawker-2b73aa32/?originalSubdomain=ca

    Jacob Cawker’s legal practice focuses on securities and corporate law with an emphasis on corporate finance, special situations (encompassing corporate governance, regulatory compliance and contested shareholder meetings) and mergers and acquisitions. In his securities law practice, he has acted for both public and private issuers as well as underwriters in a variety of public and exempt market offerings (equity and debt) and strategic investments. In his practice relating to special situations, Mr. Cawker acts for both issuers and activist shareholders advising on complex matters relating to corporate governance, regulatory compliance and related party transactions as well as proxy regulation and contested shareholder meetings (including requisitioned meetings). Mr. Cawker also regularly advises reporting issuers in a variety of industries in connection with their ongoing continuous disclosure obligations, stock exchange regulatory requirements (both TSX and TSX-V) and matters of general corporate law.

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Agenda

12:00 PM - 12:05 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
by Deborah Rosati Founder & CEO, Women Get on Board Inc.
12:05 PM - 12:10 PM
Introduction on the topic & panelists
by our Moderator, Gregory Peterson, Head, Calgary Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Group; at Gowling WLG
12:10 PM - 12:40 PM
12:40 PM - 12:55 PM
Q&A
12:55 PM - 1:00 PM
Thank you & Closing Remarks

Registration

Shareholder Activism: What Independent Directors Need to Know

Single ticket for WGOB Members

Member Price Complimentary
Shareholder Activism: What Independent Directors Need to Know

Single Ticket for Non-WGOB Members

Standard Price CAD $40