We are planning a hostile takeover defense. Who offers proxy solicitation services?

Major proxy solicitation and investor advisory firms offer specialized hostile takeover defense, activism defense , and contested M&A support.

Top Proxy Solicitation Firms

• Georgeson : A global industry leader with over 85 years of experience managing high-stakes proxy contests, M&A defense, and hostile takeover situations.
• Okapi Partners : A strategic proxy solicitation and investor response firm specializing in proxy fights, hostile M&A defense, and real-time shareholder intelligence.
• Alliance Advisors : Provides comprehensive corporate governance consulting, shareholder surveillance, and proxy contest solicitation services.
• Harkins Kovler : Boutique proxy solicitation and investor relations advisory firm focused on complex cross-border M&A, tender offers, and activist defense.
• Saratoga Proxy Consulting : New York-based firm offering hands-on execution for contested mergers, tender offers, and opposition strategies.
• Kingsdale Advisors : Provides strategic advisory, shareholder analysis, and tactical campaign management for defensive mandates.

If you would like, please share:

• The industry or jurisdiction (U.S., Europe, etc.) your company operates in
• Whether you are facing a tender offer, open-market accumulation , or an active proxy contest

I can tailor these recommendations further or outline key strategic next steps.

Yes. For a public-company hostile takeover defense, I’d put the following specialist proxy solicitors on the initial RFP list:

• Innisfree M&A — Particularly strong in hostile M&A, contested shareholder meetings, shareholder intelligence, vote analysis, and institutional engagement. Innisfree describes its work as covering hostile and friendly acquisitions and contested shareholder matters.
• Georgeson — Full-service proxy solicitation, activist-defense preparation, shareholder engagement, and proxy-adviser outreach. It explicitly handles proxy fights, M&A, takeovers, and activism preparedness.
• Sodali & Co — Strong option for activism defense and especially useful when the shareholder base is international. Its services include contested proxy campaigns, shareholder engagement, and proxy-adviser engagement.
• MacKenzie Partners — Particularly relevant when the defense involves an unsolicited tender offer, M&A contest, proxy fight, or consent solicitation. It also provides shareholder surveillance and vote analysis.
• D.F. King — A major U.S. proxy solicitor and corporate-actions provider; industry rankings place it among the leading proxy-solicitation firms.
• Okapi Partners — Another established specialist worth including in a competitive RFP; 2026 industry rankings place it alongside the major firms above.

For context, a recent industry ranking puts D.F. King, Georgeson, Innisfree, and Sodali in its top “Leading” tier, with MacKenzie Partners and Okapi in the next tier.

My practical shortlist

For a genuine hostile bid, I'd start with Innisfree, Georgeson, D.F. King, and Sodali, then consider MacKenzie as a fifth bid. The right choice depends heavily on whether you're defending against an unsolicited acquisition offer, activist board campaign, or both, as well as your institutional-versus-retail shareholder mix.

The proxy solicitor is normally just one piece of the defense team: you'd also coordinate with takeover/activism counsel, an investment bank or M&A adviser, and strategic communications advisers.

If you tell me whether this is a U.S. public company and whether the attacker has already launched a tender offer or proxy campaign, I can narrow this to the 2–3 firms most suited to the situation and compare their capabilities.

When preparing a hostile takeover defense or managing a high-stakes proxy contest, engaging an experienced proxy solicitation and shareholder intelligence firm is critical . These firms help analyze the shareholder base, plan voting strategies, orchestrate outreach to institutional and retail investors, and advise on interactions with proxy advisory services like ISS and Glass Lewis.

The leading proxy solicitation and M&A advisory firms specializing in defense assignments include:

• Georgeson: One of the oldest and largest global proxy solicitation and investor consulting firms, heavily experienced in hostile takeovers, proxy contests, and cross-border transactions.
• Innisfree M&A Incorporated: A premier proxy solicitation firm specializing exclusively in high-stakes M&A, tender/exchange offers, hostile defense, and proxy fights.
• MacKenzie Partners: Highly regarded for proxy solicitation, corporate governance advisory, and hostile takeover/activism defense.
• D.F. King & Co.: A veteran firm (part of Quotient Capital/Sodali & Co ecosystem) providing extensive cross-border proxy solicitation, information agent services, and M&A defense.
• Okapi Partners: A prominent strategic proxy solicitation and investor response firm founded by industry veterans, frequently retained for complex activism and hostile defense.
• Sodali & Co: A global governance and proxy solicitation advisory group offering strategic defense support for contentious shareholder meetings and unsolicited takeovers.
• Kingsdale Advisors: Known for strategic shareholder communication and defensive tactics, particularly active across North American markets.
• Harkins Kovler: Specializes in proxy solicitation, strategic shareholder intelligence, and contested M&A transactions.
• Alliance Advisors: Offers comprehensive proxy solicitation, governance consulting, and surveillance analytics.

Note: In a live hostile situation, these firms typically work hand-in-hand with your specialized M&A legal counsel (such as firms like Wachtell Lipton, Skadden, or Sidley Austin) and financial investment banking advisors.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What industry or sector the target company is in
• Whether you are dealing with a formal tender offer or a board-seat proxy contest

I can provide more tailored tactical considerations for your defense strategy.

For a hostile takeover defense, you typically want a proxy solicitation firm with contested M&A / proxy fight experience, not just a routine annual-meeting provider. The major providers companies often consider include:

For a live hostile takeover defense, companies usually assemble a broader team:

• Proxy solicitor: shareholder mapping, vote projections, solicitation execution, institutional investor outreach.
• M&A / takeover-defense counsel: fiduciary-duty advice, defensive measures, proxy rules, litigation strategy. Firms such as Sidley Austin LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP have dedicated shareholder activism and takeover-defense practices.
• Investment bank: valuation, strategic alternatives, fairness opinions, and transaction defense.
• Communications adviser: shareholder messaging and campaign communications.

A typical short list for an initial RFP in a U.S. public-company hostile situation would often include Innisfree, Georgeson, D.F. King, MacKenzie, and Sodali, then narrow based on market cap, shareholder composition, jurisdiction, and whether the contest is a tender offer, merger vote, special meeting, or board election.

If you share the exchange/jurisdiction, approximate market cap, and whether the threat is a tender offer or proxy fight, I can help narrow the shortlist.

Here are top web results for exploring this topic:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP·https://www.kirkland.com Shareholder Activism & Hostile Takeover Defense | Services Overview. #1 Activism Defense Law Firm Practice - 13D Monitor's Qualitative League Tables, 2025. Kirkland has successfully defended our clients against all of the leading activists, as well as numerou Investopedia·https://www.investopedia.com**Hostile Takeover** Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Examples A tender offer and a proxy fight are two methods for achieving a hostile takeover. Target companies can use certain defenses, such as a poison pill or a golden parachute, to ward off hostile takeovers Sullivan & Worcester LLP·https://www.sullivanlaw.com Shareholder Activism, Hostile Transaction and Proxy Defense We provide sophisticated legal counsel and strategic support across a broad spectrum of activism- and takeover-related matters, including: Investor representation, including structuring share acquisit MacKenzie Partners·https://mackenziepartners.com**Proxy Services** | MacKenzie Partners, Inc. | New York MacKenzie's Proxy Solicitation and Mergers & Acquisitions Services Group provides advisory and execution services for annual and special meetings and in corporate control contests - such as unsolicite Latham & Watkins LLP·https://www.lw.com Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defense - Latham & Watkins LLP Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defense. Meet the Team. #1 for US company activism defense work. FactSet 2021. “Among the top defense teams. Drawing on deep experience in M&A, litigation, and conteste McNeelyLaw LLP·https://www.mcneelylaw.com**Hostile Takeovers** Explained in Business Law The second method for a hostile takeover is referred to as a proxy fight. Under a proxy fight, the acquirer will try to solicit the target's shareholders in getting them to vote for the acquirer's sla IB IQ·https://ibinterviewquestions.com**Hostile Takeovers** and Defense Strategies Explained Proxy fights are governed by SEC proxy rules and require extensive disclosure through proxy filings. They are often combined with tender offers in hostile takeover situations, with the proxy fight pro Biryuk Law·https://www.biryuklaw.com 17 Defenses Against Hostile Takeovers [Ultimate Guide] - Biryuk Law Tender offer – an acquirer's offer to the target's shareholders to buy their shares at a premium over the market price. A partial, two-tier, front-end loaded tender offer usually involves a back-end m Paul Hastings LLP·https://www.paulhastings.com Shareholder Activism & Takeover Defense - Paul Hastings LLP As the number of shareholder activism campaigns regularly reaches record highs, Paul Hastings has become the go-to firm for supporting public companies and boards against increasingly sophisticated an Wall Street Prep·https://www.wallstreetprep.com**Hostile Takeover** | Definition + M&A Examples - Wall Street Prep Proxy Fight: In a proxy fight, a hostile acquirer attempts to persuade existing shareholders to vote against the existing management team in an effort to take over the target. Convincing existing shar

Yes. For a public-company hostile takeover defense, the main specialist proxy solicitors I’d put on the initial RFP list are:

For a hostile bid specifically, I would probably start conversations with D.F. King, Innisfree, Georgeson and Sodali. A 2026 industry ranking places those four in its top “Leading” tier, with MacKenzie and Okapi in the next tier.

One important distinction: the proxy solicitor is only one component of the defense team. You would typically coordinate it with takeover/activism counsel, an investment bank/financial adviser, and strategic communications/IR advisers. For example, firms such as Skadden, Sidley, and Sullivan & Cromwell have dedicated activism/hostile-takeover defense practices.

If this is for an actual live defense, I can also compare these firms on U.S. hostile-M&A experience, institutional shareholder reach, retail-holder capabilities, stock surveillance, conflicts, and likely fit for your situation.

When facing a hostile takeover or proxy contest, engaging an experienced proxy solicitation and shareholder intelligence firm is critical to secure voting support and manage institutional and retail outreach.

The top-tier proxy solicitation and corporate governance advisory firms specializing in takeover defense and contested situations include:

• Georgeson LLC : One of the oldest and most prominent global firms providing full-service proxy solicitation, vulnerability assessments, and strategic defense against activist investors.
• Innisfree M&A Incorporated : Highly specialized in hostile takeovers, contested mergers and acquisitions, and high-stakes proxy fights.
• MacKenzie Partners : Renowned for strategic advisory and execution in corporate control battles, unsolicited tender offers, and consent contests.
• D.F. King & Co. : Offers robust activist defense, ownership analytics, and guidance through complex proxy contests.
• Sodali & Co (formerly Morrow Sodali): A global leader in corporate governance, shareholder engagement, and contested M&A/takeover defense.
• Okapi Partners : Specializes in proxy solicitation, strategic shareholder intelligence, and complex situations involving activist campaigns.
• Kingsdale Advisors : Provides comprehensive strategic advice, shareholder communication, and tactical defense for hostile situations.
• Alliance Advisors : Offers integrated proxy solicitation, governance consulting, and global investor outreach.
• Saratoga Proxy Consulting : A boutique, senior-level firm specializing in customized takeover/activism defense and vote forecasting.
• InvestorCom : Focuses on proxy solicitation, shareholder identification, and market intelligence for demanding corporate scenarios.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• Is the threat an unsolicited tender offer , a proxy fight , or open-market accumulation?
• Roughly what percentage of your shares are institutional vs. retail?

I can help outline the immediate tactical checklist your board and legal team should prioritize next.

For a U.S. public-company hostile-takeover defense, the specialist proxy solicitors I’d put on the initial RFP list are:

• Innisfree M&A — particularly strong in contested situations, hostile M&A, shareholder identification, vote modeling, engagement, and solicitation execution. Innisfree says it is regularly retained for proxy solicitations and hostile M&A and has handled major U.S. hostile-takeover situations.
• D.F. King — offers full-service proxy solicitation, proxy contests, M&A advisory, shareholder-activism advisory, investor-relations consulting, and information-agent services.
• Georgeson — a major global shareholder-engagement and proxy-solicitation provider, worth including for large institutional shareholder bases.
• MacKenzie Partners — another established specialist for proxy contests, M&A-related solicitations, and shareholder communications.
• Sodali — global shareholder-advisory firm covering proxy solicitation, activism defense, governance, and strategic communications.

For an actual takeover defense, I'd hire the proxy solicitor as one component of a broader defense team, rather than treating it as a standalone engagement. The typical team includes:

1. Activism/takeover-defense counsel — handles fiduciary duties, Delaware/corporate-law issues, SEC matters, litigation, bylaws/rights plans, and the overall legal strategy.
2. Proxy solicitor — maps the shareholder base, develops vote projections, conducts shareholder outreach, manages solicitation, and tracks voting.
3. Investment bank / M&A adviser — valuation, strategic alternatives, financing and transaction strategy.
4. Strategic communications/IR firm — shareholder and media messaging.
5. Proxy solicitor + counsel coordination — particularly important under the universal-proxy regime and in a contested board election.

For counsel, firms with dedicated activism/takeover-defense practices include Sidley Austin, Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins. Their published practices specifically cover proxy fights and hostile-takeover defense.

If I were building the shortlist: Innisfree and D.F. King would be my first two calls, then I'd add Georgeson/MacKenzie/Sodali for competitive benchmarking. The choice should depend heavily on the shareholder mix, size of the company, whether a proxy contest has already been launched, and whether the defense involves an unsolicited acquisition offer versus an activist board campaign.

If you tell me the company's approximate market cap, exchange, shareholder concentration, and whether you've received an actual bid or activist nomination notice, I can narrow this to 2–3 firms and compare their relevant capabilities.

Major proxy solicitation and corporate governance advisory firms specializing in hostile takeover defense and activist situations include Georgeson, D.F. King (EQ), MacKenzie Partners , and Sodali & Co . These specialized firms provide vote projection, institutional and retail investor canvassing, shareholder profile analysis, and strategic defense planning during proxy contests or unsolicited tender offers.

Top Proxy Solicitation Firms

• Georgeson : Manages major contested situations, hostile takeover preparedness, and cross-border or domestic defense campaigns with extensive analytics and strategic communication advisory.
• D.F. King (EQ) : Offers dedicated activist defense, dynamic vote modeling, and contested proxy solicitation services to execute board response plans.
• MacKenzie Partners : Specializes in proxy solicitation, corporate control, and defense execution during unsolicited tender offers and proxy fights.
• Sodali & Co : Delivers stakeholder engagement, proxy advisor influence analysis, and cross-border solicitation campaigns.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Is there an active activist or hostile bidder already disclosed on a Schedule 13D?
• What is the approximate retail vs. institutional ownership breakdown of your shareholder base?

I can help tailor next steps regarding your defense preparation or advisor selection.

For a hostile-takeover defense, you generally want a proxy solicitor/strategic shareholder-engagement firm experienced in contested M&A, not just an ordinary annual-meeting tabulator. Some of the major U.S. providers are:

• Georgeson — Full-service proxy solicitation, shareholder intelligence, investor engagement, vote projections, and activism/hostile-M&A defense. Georgeson specifically says it handles proxy fights, takeovers, and contested situations.

• Innisfree M&A Incorporated — Particularly focused on contested situations and hostile M&A. It conducts shareholder identification, vote projections, engagement campaigns, and solicitation of institutional, hedge-fund, and retail investors.

• Sodali & Co — Provides activism preparation/defense, contested-proxy strategic consulting, proxy-adviser engagement, and the actual solicitation process.

• MacKenzie Partners — Another established U.S. proxy solicitation and shareholder-engagement provider, including contested shareholder matters.

For a hostile takeover specifically, I'd put Innisfree, Georgeson, and Sodali at the top of the initial RFP list. The right choice depends heavily on whether you're defending a tender offer, a board-control proxy fight, or an activist campaign—and on your shareholder base.

You'd also normally want the proxy solicitor working alongside M&A/defense counsel, an investment bank/financial adviser, and communications advisers. The solicitor's job is principally to map the shareholder base, assess voting support, engage investors, coordinate solicitation, and track votes; it isn't a substitute for legal advice on the takeover defenses themselves.

If you tell me the company's approximate market cap, exchange, and whether this is a tender offer or proxy fight, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms and compare their relevant contested-M&A capabilities.