Ruth Pachman

She has led hundreds of complex, high-profile engagements that include shareholder activism; friendly, contested, and cross-border M&A activity; media relations and investor relations; financial restructuring and chapter 11 filings; and crisis communications. She works seamlessly with C-suites, boards, and internal teams across communications, finance, and legal functions.

While her financial communications practice ranges across industries and geographies, she is a recognized practitioner in supporting Japanese companies with an international shareholder base navigating M&A and shareholder activism defense.

In addition, she is a leader of the firm’s significant insurance and asset management practice, which serves as long-time IR and PR counsel to numerous U.S.- and Bermuda-based companies. Ruth has supported notable recent transactions and strategic initiatives in the sector.

Business restructurings and Chapter 11 filings, often with a cross-border component, are also a core part of her practice. Her work also often involves sensitive communications challenges and opportunities in the areas of executive transitions, litigation support and regulatory oversight, and union issues.

Ruth holds a B.A. in English, magna cum laude, from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in English with an Emphasis in Expository Writing from the University of Iowa. Ruth was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan University in 2024. She is also a member of the Board of the New York Youth Symphony. Ruth served on the Board of Directors of Union Settlement of East Harlem for 29 years, including four years as Chair.

Experience

Select Shareholder Activism Defense

Japan

• 7&i (parent company of 7-Eleven) in its successful proxy fight against ValueAct; and subsequent defense against unsolicited takeover proposal by Alimentation Couche-Tard and related hedge fund criticism
• Toshiba’s Board in its defense against multiple shareholders
• Olympus in its defense against ValueAct
• Fujifilm in its proposed acquisition of Xerox and defense against Carl Icahn in his opposition to the transaction
• Koito Manufacturing in its defense against T. Boone Pickens

Rest of World

• Delivery Hero in its defense against Sachem Head
• Extended Stay America in its defense against Tarsadia Capital’s opposition to its sale to Blackstone and Starwood
• GM in its successful proxy fight defense against Greenlight Capital
• PulteGroup in its defense against Elliott Management
• The Advisory Board Company in its defense against Elliott Management and split and sales to Optum and Vista Equity Partners
• Yum! Brands in its defense against Third Point and Corvex and subsequent spinoff of Yum China
• Dell in its defense against Carl Icahn in connection with the management buyout by Michael Dell

Select Friendly, Contested, and Cross-Border M&A

Insurance and Asset Management

• Brighthouse Financial in its agreement to be acquired by Aquarian Capital
• Sompo in its agreement to acquire Aspen Insurance
• Third Point Re in its acquisition of Sirius Group
• Voya Financial in its divestiture of its individual life insurance and other legacy non-retirement annuities businesses
• Meiji Yasuda in its acquisition of Stancorp Financial
• Endurance Specialty Holdings in its unsolicited bid for Aspen Holdings
• Montpelier Re in its acquisition by Endurance Specialty Holdings

Across Sectors

• Getty Images in its agreement to acquire Shutterstock
• Nuance Communications in its acquisition by Microsoft
• The ODP Corporation (Office Depot) in its defense against a takeover proposal from Sycamore Partners
• CVS Health in its acquisition of Aetna
• WABCO in its acquisition by ZF Friedrichshafen
• Aleris in its proposed acquisition by China Zhongwang
• Baxalta in its defense against and ultimate acquisition by Shire plc
• Exelon in its unsolicited proposal for NRG
• Daimler-Benz in its combination with Chrysler
• KKR in its acquisition of RJR Nabisco; served as chief media spokesperson and represented the firm in all M&A activity over a 20-year period

Restructuring and Chapter 11 Filings

• Healthcare: National Resilience, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Cano Health
• Consumer brands: API (holding company of Avon’s non-U.S. operations), RadioShack, Kodak, rue21, and Nine West
• Industrial enterprises: Intelsat, SunEdison, Jack Cooper, Walter Energy, Lear, and Aleris

Litigation Support and Union Activity

• Represent healthcare and automotive companies in connection with UAW, SEIU, and state nursing unions on a range of contract issues
• Support companies faced with federal and state inquiries from the SEC, DOJ, and state Attorneys General on both criminal and civil matters and assist with communications of complex settlements
• Address communications implications of whistleblower suits and other employee-related litigation and concerns