Public Company Advisory Group
Notable Representations, Key Contacts
Weil’s Public Company Advisory Group provides comprehensive advice on disclosure, corporate governance and compliance to public company boards of directors, independent board committees and senior management. We also advise directors and officers of private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies and significant not-for-profit organizations in these critical areas.
Based in New York and Washington, D.C., our team includes well-respected authorities on securities regulation, corporate governance and compliance, including senior alumni of the SEC. We take an integrated approach – recognizing that whether the immediate concern is in the realm of disclosure, governance or compliance, the solution frequently involves each of the other considerations as well.
We assist clients in meeting their day-to-day challenges – public reporting, fulfillment of board and committee responsibilities, shareholder engagement and effective compliance programs. We also respond rapidly and effectively to special challenges – the discovery of financial statement errors, shareholder activism, unplanned-for CEO succession, government investigations and financial distress. As particular matters require, we work closely with colleagues in other practice areas, including M&A, investigations/securities litigation, restructuring, executive compensation and capital markets.
We advise at all stages of a client’s life cycle, including establishing the governance framework for IPO companies, private equity portfolio companies and joint ventures. We provide our clients “early warning” of new developments and emerging trends to help them prepare for change in a considered way tailored to their business and circumstances.
Below is an illustration of the range of matters on which we regularly advise:

Key Contacts
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements
Awards and Recognition
- Weil Ranked Tier 1 in Corporate Governance Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2020
- Both the Practice Group and Co-Heads Ellen Odoner and Howard Dicker Ranked for Securities: Regulation: Advisory: Nationwide Award Brief — Chambers USA 2020
- Ellen Odoner Named Among the 100 Most Influential People in the Boardroom Award Brief — NACD Directorship magazine 2020, 2019, 2018
- Weil Named “Law Firm of the Year” for Securities Regulation Award Brief — U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Survey 2018, 2013 (Best Lawyers (in America) is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
- Weil Ranked among the “Best Corporate Law Firms” by Directors and General Counsel Award Brief — Corporate Board Member “America's Best Corporate Law Firms” Survey, 2018
- Ira Millstein named among honorees for Lifetime Achievement Award Brief — New York Law Journal 2017
- Weil ranked Tier 1 for "Securities Regulation" category in U.S. Award Brief — U.S. News - Best Lawyers-Best Law Firms Rankings 2020 (Best Lawyers (in America) is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
- Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Shareholder Activism: Advice to Boards Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2020
Speaking Engagements
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PLI’s Sixth Annual Dealing with MD&A Hot Topics
Speaker(s):
P.J. Himelfarb
January 29, 2021 — Public Company Advisory Group partner P.J. Himelfarb spoke on key MD&A issues for the 2020 annual report on Form 10-K and 2021 quarterly reports on Form 10-Q as part of PLI’s Sixth Annual Dealing with MD&A Hot Topics.
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Northwestern Law’s 48th Annual Securities Regulation Virtual Institute
Speaker(s):
P.J. Himelfarb
January 26, 2021 — Public Company Advisory Group partner P.J. Himelfarb spoke on a panel titled “Recurring Disclosure Challenges” as part of Northwestern Law’s 48th Annual Securities Regulation Virtual Institute. The panel discussed COVID-19: what more to say in 2021?; new human capital disclosures; dealing with contingencies and legal proceedings; guidance: updating it, withdrawing it, restarting it; and complications from share buybacks and Rule 10b5-1 plans.
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Streamlined MD&A and Financial Disclosures: Early Considerations
Speaker(s):
Lyuba Goltser
January 12, 2021 — Public Company Advisory Group partner Lyuba Goltser spoke on a panel titled “Streamlined MD&A and Financial Disclosures: Early Considerations” as part of The Corporate Counsel’s Webcast Series.
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Pipeline to Power Summit
Speaker(s):
Adé Heyliger
January 12, 2021 — Public Company Advisory Group partner Adé Heyliger spoke on a panel titled “Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Board Members” as part of the Council of Urban Professionals and Goldman Sachs Pipeline to Power Summit. The presentation covered the future of board composition, trends across public, private, corporate and not-for-profit boards and how diverse professionals can be a part of this next generation of board members.
Latest Thinking
- Key Priorities for Boards of Directors in 2021 Alert — Governance & Securities — By Lyuba Goltser and Kaitlin Descovich — PDF — January 26, 2021
- Audit Committee Update: 21 Financial Reporting Disclosure & Control Tips for 2021 Alert — Governance & Securities — By Catherine T. Dixon and P.J. Himelfarb — PDF — January 22, 2021
- NACD’s 2021 Governance Outlook – Board Oversight 2021: “Mission Critical” Risks and the Corporate “Mission” Converge Publication — National Association of Corporate Directors — By Lyuba Goltser, Adé Heyliger and Ellen J. Odoner — PDF — December 2020
- Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: Glass Lewis Issues Policy Updates – New Policies Focus on Racial/Ethnic Board Diversity, ESG Risk Oversight, Board Refreshment, SPACs and Executive Compensation Alert — Governance & Securities — By Lyuba Goltser, Kaitlin Descovich and Andrew Holt — PDF — December 08, 2020
- Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: Insights & Warnings for Compensation Committees are Revealed in the Say-on-Pay Vote Results of Midyear Proxy Filers Alert — Governance & Securities — By Adé Heyliger, Andrew Holt and Evan Mendelsohn — PDF — November 17, 2020
- Heads-Up for the 2021 Proxy Season: ISS Issues Policy Updates – New and Revised Policies Focus on Racial/Ethnic Board Diversity, ESG Risk Oversight, Board Refreshment and Exclusive Forum Provisions Alert — Governance & Securities — By Lyuba Goltser, Kaitlin Descovich, Elisabeth T. McMorris and Ellen J. Odoner — PDF — November 16, 2020
- SEC Adopts Amendments to Rule 14a-8: More Stringent Requirements for Shareholder Proposals Will First Apply to 2022 Proxy Season Alert — Governance & Securities — By Catherine T. Dixon and Andrew Holt — PDF — October 06, 2020
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advises Advent-Backed ATI Physical Therapy in its $2.5B Business Combination with Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II Deal Brief — February 22, 2021
- Weil Advises Cardtronics in its Pending $2.5 Billion Sale to NCR Corporation Deal Brief — January 25, 2021
- Weil Advises Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. in its Pending $7.3 Billion Merger with Alight Solutions LLC Deal Brief — January 25, 2021
- Weil Advises Magellan Health in its $2.2B Merger with Centene Corporation Deal Brief — January 04, 2021
- Weil Advises Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. II in its Pending $9 Billion Merger with Paysafe Deal Brief — December 09, 2020
- Weil Advised Fortress Value Acquisition Corp in its Acquisition of Secure Natural Resources and MP Materials Firm Announcement — November 16, 2020
- Weil Advised Blackstone as Controlling Shareholder of Vivint Solar in its Approximately $7.5 Billion Sale to Sunrun Firm Announcement — October 22, 2020