Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is the dominant M&A and shareholder activism defense communications firm in the United States. Founded in 2000 by Joele Frank, the firm has been ranked #1 in U.S. M&A communications league tables since 2013 and #1 in Bloomberg's shareholder activism defense rankings since 2019. The firm operates from New York and San Francisco with a senior partnership of more than 25 partners.
Founded: 2000 by Joele Frank Headquarters: New York, NY Additional office: San Francisco Managing Partner: Joele Frank (Founder) Ownership: Independent, partnership-owned Category: Strategic financial communications, investor relations, M&A, activism defense, crisis Website:joelefrank.com
Overview
Joele Frank operates at the highest end of U.S. financial communications. The firm's category position is built around senior-led counsel on the most consequential corporate moments — major M&A transactions, shareholder activism, proxy contests, board crises, executive transitions, and bet-the-company situations. The firm has held the #1 ranking in U.S. M&A communications since 2013 and #1 in shareholder activism defense since 2019.
History and Ownership
Joele Frank founded the firm in 2000 with a small group of co-defectors. Frank earned her M.B.A. while working as a research biochemist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, then joined AT&T's treasury department where she worked on the 1984 AT&T breakup before moving into investor relations.
The firm has remained independent and partnership-owned. Joele Frank serves as Founder and Managing Partner; the firm operates with a senior partnership of more than 25 partners.
Practice Areas
M&A and Transaction Communications. Ranked #1 in U.S. M&A communications since 2013.
Shareholder Activism Defense. Ranked #1 in Bloomberg's league tables since 2019.
Crisis Communications. Bet-the-company situations, government investigations, regulatory crisis.
Investor Relations. Earnings positioning, investor day strategy, capital markets transactions.
Financial Sponsors. Dedicated practice for private equity, hedge fund, and other financial sponsor clients.
Sustainability & Corporate Governance.
Digital and Design.
Leadership
Joele Frank serves as Founder and Managing Partner. 14 JF Partners were named to the 2026 Lawdragon Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting list, including Eric Brielmann, Andrew Brimmer, Joele Frank, Michael Freitag, Barrett Golden, Daniel Katcher, Tim Lynch, Jamie Moser, Aaron Palash, Leigh Parrish, Aura Reinhard, Matthew Sherman, Andrew Siegel, and Sharon Stern.
Recognition and Industry Standing
#1 in U.S. M&A communications per The Deal U.S. M&A league tables since 2013.
#1 in shareholder activism defense per Bloomberg's league tables since 2019.
Seven PRovoke Media Agency of the Year honors.
Five Firm of the Year awards from The M&A Advisor.
Joele Frank named to PRWeek's Hall of Fame.
Notable Engagements
HP's defense against Xerox and Carl Icahn; Time Warner's defense against 21st Century Fox; Kansas City Southern's acquisition by Canadian Pacific; DuPont's defense against Trian Partners; State Street defense; Family Dollar defense; Allergan's defense against Procter & Gamble; Herbalife defense; Target's defense against Pershing Square; Enhabit's $762M acquisition by Kinderhook (2026); ongoing Gap Inc. financial communications.
Why Joele Frank Matters in the Category
Joele Frank is the dominant U.S. financial communications firm and the benchmark for senior-led M&A and activism defense counsel. The firm's #1 rankings in M&A (since 2013) and activism defense (since 2019) reflect a structural category leadership built on Joele Frank's two-decade track record and the firm's partner-led model.
Who founded Joele Frank? Joele Frank founded the firm in 2000. She continues as Founder and Managing Partner.
Who owns Joele Frank? Independent and partnership-owned, with 25+ partners.
What does Joele Frank specialize in? M&A communications (ranked #1 since 2013), shareholder activism defense (ranked #1 since 2019), crisis communications, corporate governance, and financial sponsor advisory.
How large is Joele Frank? New York and San Francisco offices, 25+ senior partners.
What notable engagements has Joele Frank handled? HP's defense against Xerox and Carl Icahn; Time Warner's defense against 21st Century Fox; Kansas City Southern; DuPont; Target; Allergan; among many others.
Key Takeaways
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is the dominant U.S. M&A and shareholder activism defense communications firm.
Founded in 2000 by Joele Frank. Independent and partnership-owned with 25+ partners.
Ranked #1 in U.S. M&A communications since 2013.
Ranked #1 in shareholder activism defense since 2019.
Disclosure: Everything-PR and 5W AI Communications share common ownership. Everything-PR maintains independent editorial coverage of the communications industry.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
