Law firm Skadden hires Gonzalez-Sussman from Olshan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Law firm Skadden on Thursday said it hired a veteran attorney to head its shareholder engagement and activism practice at a time more investors are pushing corporations to change strategy or replace top executives.

Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman will be a partner in the M&A Group and advise Skadden clients on how to react when activist investors like hedge funds knock on the door with demands. She had been the vice chair of shareholder activism at Olshan Frome Wolosky, which works with many activist investors.

While many law firms advise clients facing activist pressure through their M&A groups, a number have now created specific activism defense groups as the number of campaigns has increased and is expected to keep growing, lawyers and bankers said.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)