Shareholder Advisory Specialist
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is seeking a Shareholder Advisory Specialist to join its corporate governance and activism defense practice. This specialized analytical role is embedded within the firm's M&A and Corporate Practice Group, working directly alongside partners and associates who advise boards and senior management on activist defense, proxy strategy, and corporate governance. The firm operates as a single, integrated global partnership with 14 offices in major financial centers worldwide, employing approximately 1,100 lawyers from more than 50 countries.
The Shareholder Advisory Specialist will function as one of the firm's in-house proxy intelligence resources. Key responsibilities include analyzing client shareholder bases to identify concentrations of activist-friendly institutional investors, scoring client governance profiles against ISS and Glass Lewis policy frameworks, modeling total shareholder return underperformance relative to peers, and reviewing board composition for common activist attack vectors. Additionally, the specialist will track Schedule 13D, 13G, and 13F filings via EDGAR to detect early-stage activist accumulation and monitor live activist campaigns across the market.
Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree, preferably in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field, and have 3–5 years of experience in proxy advisory, equity research with a governance or ESG focus, activist hedge fund or activism defense advisory, or in-house shareholder intelligence or investor relations at a public company. Strong financial modeling skills, proficiency with SEC filings/EDGAR and financial data providers, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects across different deal teams, is also required.
The estimated base salary range for this position is $135,000 to $165,000. Cleary Gottlieb offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits. The firm is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable qualified employees to perform the essential functions of their position.