Shareholder Activism Summit NYC | January 29th, 2026

7:30-8:25 AM | Registration and Networking Breakfast

8:25 - 8:30 AM | Welcome Remarks
Christopher P. Skroupa, Founder & CEO, Skytop Strategies

8:30 - 8:50 AM | Trendline Report
TRENDLINE: Shareholder Activism in the Media
Presenter:
John S. Wilson, Managing Partner, Skytop Media Group

8:50 - 9:25AM | Panel Discussion
The Activist Investor: How to Best Capitalize on What Lies Ahead in 2026
Moderator:
Michael R. Levin, Independent Activist Investor, Founder of the Activist Investor, Skytop Contributor and Host of “The Activist Investor”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Panelists:
Gabriel Radzyminski, Founder, Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer, Sandon Capital

9:25 - 10:05 AM | Workshop Findings Panel
The Activist Playbook: Objectives, Tactics, and Board-Level Implications
Chair & Moderator:
Eleazer Klein, Partner, Global Head of Shareholder Activism, McDermott Will & Schulte
Panelists:
TBA
About the Findings:
As part of our pre-summit executive programming, this workshop invites board directors and senior leadership into a strategic deep dive led by Eleazer Klein, Partner at McDermott Will & Schulte. This session will illuminate the evolving architecture of shareholder activism—from capital structure critiques to ESG-driven campaigns and governance reform. Eleazer will guide participants through the anatomy of activist strategy, revealing how demands are framed, how pressure is applied, and how boards can anticipate, interpret, and respond with clarity and control. Drawing on recent campaigns and legal inflection points, this workshop equips leaders to engage not just defensively, but tactically while navigating the activist’s agenda.

10:05- 10:40 AM | Panel Discussion
Board Refresh: Challenging Long-Tenured Board Members Through Universal Proxy
Moderator:
Panelists:
Christopher J. Pappano, Partner & Managing Director, Barington Capital Group

10:40 - 10:55 AM | Networking Break

10:55 - 11:30 AM | Panel Discussion
Board Accountability: Increased Pressure on Under Performing CEOs
Moderator:
Charles Elson, Founding Director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, Edgar S. Woolard Jr. Chair of Corporate Governance (retired), University of Delaware and Executive Editor, Directors & Boards Magazine
Panelists:
August Vlak, Partner and Managing Director, Barington Capital Group, L.P.
Jared L. Landaw, General Counsel, The Eastern Company, Adjunct Professor, Syracuse University College of Law
Mauro da Cunha, Independent Director, Senior Advisor, Engage.MC

11:30 - 12:10 PM | Case Story One
The Activist Decision to Invest
Investment Committee Chair:
Nick Graziano, Partner, 2717 Partners, Skytop Contributor & Host of “Inside the Corporate Boardroom”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Key Presenter:
James Mitarotonda, Chairman, President & CEO, Barington Capital Group
Investment Committee Members:
W. Graeme Roustan, Executive Chairman and Owner, Roustan Capital
Eric Rosenfeld, CEO, Crescendo Partners
About this Case Story:
In a mock closed-door session, the investment committee—chaired by Nick and composed of four members—convenes to evaluate a mid-cap industrial company facing poor operational performance relative to peers, an inefficient balance sheet and management/governance concerns.  The company appears to be at a crossroads where it must decide on a go-forward operating plan, leadership change or a sale of the company.  The discounted share price and frustrated shareholder base has recently attracted activist attention. Committee members debate whether the firm presents a viable turnaround opportunity or a value trap. Key considerations include board receptiveness, potential for margin expansion, and alignment with high performance principles. The session culminates in a go/no-go vote, with audience members invited to weigh in on the strategic rationale behind either decision.

12:10 - 12:45P M | Panel Discussion
Small Cap Activism: Activist Strategies Worth Noting
Moderator:
John Glenn Grau, President & CEO, InvestorCom
Panelists:
James Elbaor, Managing Partner, Marlton LLC
Phil Goldstein, Principal, Bulldog Investors LLC

12:45 - 1:45 PM | Networking Luncheon

1:45 - 2:25 PM | Workshop Findings Panel
Reputation on Trial: Navigating Activist Pressure in the Court of Public Opinion
Chair & Moderator:
Jeremy Fielding, CEO, Kekst CNC, Skytop Contributor, Host of “To The Point”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Panelists:
TBA
About the Findings:
As a strategic lead-in to our Shareholder Activism Summit, this exclusive workshop invites board directors and senior executives to engage with Jeremy Fielding, CEO of Kekst CNC, in a candid, high-level exploration of reputational defense amid an activist advance. This session will examine how leadership teams can anticipate, interpret, and respond to activist campaigns not only through legal and financial channels, but through the lens of public perception and media narrative. Jeremy will share insights drawn from high-stakes engagements, offering frameworks for message discipline, stakeholder alignment, and crisis agility. Designed for those who steward corporate legacy and governance, this workshop will challenge participants to consider how reputational capital is built, preserved, and—when necessary—reclaimed. 

2:25 - 3:00 PM | Panel Discussion
Executive Compensation: Recent Insights from the Chancery Court
Moderator:
Panelists:
Gregory V. Varallo, Partner & Head of Delaware Office, BLB&G

3:00 - 3:20 PM | Interview
Human Capital: Remote Work, Tight Labor Markets, and Employer Expectations
Interviewer:
Interviewee:

3:20 - 4:00 PM | Workshop Findings Panel
Fiduciary Foresight: Best Practices for Boards in Activist and Crisis Scenarios
Chair & Moderator:
David A. Katz, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Panelists:
TBA
About the Findings:
In this exclusive preconference Zoom workshop, David A. Katz, leading corporate governance partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz—will guide board members and senior executives through the nuanced terrain of special situations. Drawing on decades of strategic counsel, Katz will dissect the anatomy of board decision-making under pressure, offering a clear framework of do’s and do not’s in navigating activist advances, contested transactions, and reputational inflection points. Participants will gain actionable insights into fiduciary duties, disclosure obligations, and tactical preparedness.

4:00 - 4:15 PM | Networking Break

4:15-4:35 PM | Exclusive Interview
Aligning Board Strategy: The Impact of Activist Demands on Governance, Strategy and Brand
Interviewer:
Josh Black, Editor-in-Chief, Diligent Market Intelligence
Interviewee:

4:35 -5:05 PM | Capitalism Today
Editorial Committee: Views on the Year Ahead
Committee Chair:
Arthur Kohn, General Counsel, Leading Corporate Governance Expert, Skytop Contributor, and Chair of the Editorial Committee, Skytop Media Group
Committee Members:

5:05 - 5:45 PM | Case Story Two
The Activist Decision to Exit
Investment Committee Chair:
Nick Graziano, Partner, 2717 Partners, Skytop Contributor & Host of “Inside the Corporate Boardroom”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Key Presenter:
James Mitarotonda, Chairman, President & CEO, Barington Capital Group
Investment Committe Members:
TBA
About this Case Story:
Six quarters after the initial investment, the committee reconvenes to assess progress against the benchmarks set during the buy-in phase—operational margin targets, board refreshment, and capital return metrics. While some improvements are evident, the company has failed to meet its strategic milestones, and market sentiment remains tepid. The committee now faces a critical decision: whether to divest and reallocate capital, or double down with escalated engagement. Audience participants are asked to define “success” from an activist investor’s lens—whether it’s financial return, governance reform, or reputational impact—and to debate the timing and optics of an exit. The case closes with a vote on divestiture strategy and lessons learned.

5:45-6:00 PM | Closing Keynote

6:00 - 7:00 PM | Networking Reception