Shareholder Proposals: Value-Creating or Distracting?

Shareholder Proposals: Value-Creating or Distracting?

Hosted by: The Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation

Poonam Puri, Professor & York Research Chair in Corporate Governance, Investor Protection & Financial Markets, Osgoode Law School; Head, The Johnston Centre’s Capital Markets Initiative
Ian Robertson, Former CEO, Kingsdale Advisors; Member, Johnston Centre Advisory Committee, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Irene Yi, Assistant Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; The Johnston Centre Research Fellow
Naizam Kanji, General Counsel, Executive Vice-President, Legal and Governance, Ontario Securities Commission
Jennifer Longhurst, Partner and Co-Lead of Critical Situations & Shareholder Activism, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Kevin Thomas, CEO, SHARE

Discover new insights from industry leaders, legal experts, and corporate governance professionals gathered to explore the evolving landscape of shareholder activism in North America. This event will delve into the regulatory frameworks that shape shareholder proposals in both the United States and Canada, offering a comparative analysis of how each system governs corporate governance and investor rights. Whether you’re a corporate executive, legal advisor, or investor, this half-day event offers a unique opportunity to stay ahead of regulatory changes, foster better corporate governance, and understand the future of shareholder proposals in North America. Don’t miss out on this essential event for anyone involved in corporate leadership or shareholder advocacy.

Poonam Puri, Professor & York Research Chair in Corporate Governance, Investor Protection & Financial Markets, Osgoode Law School, Head, The Johnston Centre’s Capital Markets Initiative

Professor Poonam Puri is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar of corporate law, corporate governance, investor protection and capital markets regulation. Appointed to Osgoode Hall Law School over twenty-five years ago, she has served as both Associate Dean and Associate Dean, Research, Graduate Studies and Institutional Relations at Osgoode. Professor Puri has also chaired Osgoode’s Faculty Council several times and she is currently serving as Chair of York University’s Senate. She holds the York Research Chair in Corporate Governance, Investor Protection and Financial Markets.

Ian Robertson, Former CEO, Kingsdale Advisors; Member, Johnston Centre Advisory Committee, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Ian Robertson is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience helping global leaders solve novel, complex problems for which there is no immediate playbook and serving as a force multiplier to help already successful corporate executives achieve more. He has developed a wide range of expertise from the boardrooms of Bay St. to the backrooms of government with a career that includes being CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, North America's leading strategic shareholder advisory firm, and Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager to high-profile political leaders. Known for his strategic foresight, Ian has been trusted by Fortune 500 and TSX/S&P 60 companies in over 180 proxy fights and hostile transactions. His influence extends beyond the boardroom with commentary on corporate strategy and governance sought by national and international media including Bloomberg, The Globe and Mail, and The Harvard Law School Forum.

Irene Yi, Assistant Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; The Johnston Centre Research Fellow
Irene Yi joined Rotman as an Assistant Professor of Finance in July 2018. Before joining Rotman, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance at Purdue University. Her research interests include corporate finance, corporate governance, and labour and finance. Her recent research examines the tradeoffs involved in expanding shareholder rights and has been published at the Review of Financial Studies. She teaches Corporate Finance at Rotman and has taught courses in corporate finance and corporate governance at the undergraduate and Ph.D. level

Naizam Kanji, General Counsel, Executive Vice-President, Legal and Governance, Ontario Securities Commission

Naizam is General Counsel and Executive Vice-President, Legal and Governance at the Ontario Securities Commission. Naizam is responsible for oversight of the General Counsel’s Office and the governance functions of the Governance and Tribunal Secretariat.

Naizam has been with the Ontario Securities Commission since 2000 and previously held the positions of Director of the Office of Mergers & Acquisitions and Deputy Director of the Corporate Finance Branch. Prior to joining the OSC, Naizam clerked with the Commercial List of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and was an associate in the insolvency andrestructuring group at a leading Canadian law firm.

Naizam has been a frequent speaker on securities regulation at conferences and law schools in Canada and the United States. He has also written papers on regulatory aspects of mergers and acquisitions law. Naizam is an Adjunct Professor in securities law and securities litigation at the University of Toronto Law School and in the LLM (Securities Law) program at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.

Naizam served as Special Advisor to the Chair of the OSC on Regulatory Burden Reduction and led the team responsible for the OSC’s burden reduction report issued in November 2019. Naizam was a member of the Expert Advisory Group to the Ontario Capital Markets Modernization Task Force that was formed at the direction of the Minister of Finance in 2020.

Naizam has a LLB and a LLM (Securities Law) from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 1998.

Jennifer Longhurst, Partner and Co-Lead of Critical Situations & Shareholder Activism, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Jennifer Longhurst is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Business Law Group in Toronto, and a Co-lead of the firm’s M&A, Critical Situations & Shareholder Activism and Corporate Governance strategic groups. With a highly respected reputation for advising business leaders, boards of directors, special committees and investors on complex transactions, special situations and corporate governance matters, Jennifer is widely recognized as an industry leader, including by Chambers and Partners. Her extensive practice knowledge is matched by expertise across key Canadian industries, including, metals and mining, energy and natural resources, heavy industries, financial services, real estate, pharmaceuticals, private equity and retail and consumer markets, making her a trusted advisor on strategic and legal issues and broader business concerns.

In addition to her practice experience, Jennifer is active in the business community as a thought leader, educator and representative on industry committees and boards. She is a frequent speaker, author, and regular contributor to industry publications, as well as at conferences and events. She is a past adjunct professor of Corporate Transactions at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Professional Development LLM Program and a frequent adjunct instructor at various Governance, Activism and M&A programs. She is a past Chair of the OSC’s Securities Advisory Committee, and a member and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of The Walrus.

Select recognitions include: Chambers Canada – Leading Lawyer: Corporate/Commercial – Ontario; Lexpert/American Lawyer Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada; Best Lawyers in Canada – Leading Lawyer in Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, M&A and Mining; Lexpert Zenith Award – Mid-Career Excellence in M&A Lexpert Special Edition Leading Lawyer – Finance, M&A and Mining; and Canadian Dealmakers Award – Deal Team of the Year.

Kevin Thomas, CEO, SHARE
Kevin Thomas is the Chief Executive Officer of the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE). SHARE is a leader in responsible investment services, providing shareholder engagement, research, leadership development, and policy advocacy services to a growing network of Canadian pension plans, universities, foundations, Indigenous trusts, religious institutions and asset managers. SHARE is the secretariat for the global Committee on Workers Capital, the University Network for Investor Engagement, and co-Secretariat for the Climate Engagement Canada initiative and the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative. He holds an LLM in international business law from U of T. www.share.ca

This event is available to attend in-person.

Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. If you have any access needs or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this session, please email [email protected] no later than 2 weeks in advance of the event and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.

• The event will be hosted in Desautels Hall at the Rotman School of Management (105 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 3E6).

Questions: Lisa Luinenburg [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rotman School of Management, 105 St. George Street, Toronto, Canada