John B. Beckman | Washington, D.C. | Hogan Lovells

John B. Beckman
Beckman John
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

'John Beckman is one of a kind. ... He is steady and builds trust and confidence with all management and our board.'

Client quoted in Legal 500 US 2021

John Beckman helps his clients navigate the ever-changing public company landscape. He focuses on SEC disclosure, financial and accounting issues, proxy solicitations, insider trading, state corporate law issues, strategic transactions, and corporate governance.

As the leader of the firm's U.S. Securities and Public Company Advisory practice, John's focus is on representing public companies and their boards on their most important matters. John frequently represents public companies and boards of directors on strategic transactions, including strategic review processes and unsolicited takeover proposals, financial restatements, and shareholder interactions, including shareholder engagement and shareholder activism. He has over 25 years of experience advising clients on these matters as well as a broad range of complex transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, divestitures, spin-offs, share repurchases, capital markets financings, and recapitalizations.

John serves as regular outside securities and corporate governance counsel to numerous NYSE and Nasdaq listed companies. In addition, John is regularly engaged as special counsel by other law firms, companies, boards, and board committees to advise on corporate governance and strategic matters, crises, and special situations.

John is nationally recognized as a leading lawyer in corporate governance and public company representations.

quote mark

'To prepare for and defend against shareholder activism, there is no better resource than John Beckman.'

Client quoted in Legal 500 US 2023

Representative experience

Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) on corporate governance and securities matters, including its recent settlement with two shareholder activists.

The board of directors of a leading global apparel retailer on governance matters, an internal investigation and disputes related to alleged sexual misconduct by the company’s former CEO. 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) on its corporate governance and securities matters, including a liability management transaction.  

The board of directors of Eagle Bulk Shipping (NYSE: EGLE) on a share repurchase from a major shareholder, the adoption of a poison pill and its merger with Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (Nasdaq: SBLK).

Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) in connection with its corporate governance and securities matters, including following a cybersecurity incident. 

FLIR Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: FLIR) on its US$8bn sale to Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY) in a cash and stock merger transaction.

A leading automotive manufacturing company in its recent settlement with a shareholder activist.

Orbital ATK Inc. (NYSE: OA) on corporate governance, securities, and transactional matters, including a multi-year financial restatement and US$9.2bn sale to Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC).

 

Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE: ORB) in connection with its US$5bn "merger of equals" transaction with Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Osiris Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: OSIR) in a multi-year financial restatement and its subsequent sale by tender offer to Smith & Nephew PLC.

Reliance, Inc. (NYSE: RS) on its corporate governance and securities matters, including its reincorporation from California to Delaware.

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law, magna cum laude, 1997
  • B.S., Towson University, 1994
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • District of Columbia
Memberships
  • Member, Business Law Section, American Bar Association

Recognition

Corporate Governance, Leading Lawyer

Legal 500 US

2021-2024
Shareholder Activism: Advice to Boards, Recommended

Legal 500 US

2019-2021, 2023
Corporate Governance, Recommended

Legal 500 US

2016-2021
Acritas Star

Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers

2017-2020