Overview
Represents clients in complex, high-stakes commercial disputes, with particular expertise in shareholder activism litigation, investment fund and partnership disputes, and securities litigation.
Minji maintains a leading practice in shareholder activism litigation and has achieved litigation victories on behalf of her clients in some of the most significant proxy contests in the last decade, including Politan Capital Management in its proxy contest against Masimo Corporation; venBio Select Advisor LLC in its proxy contest against Immunomedics, Inc.; and St. Denis J. Villere & Co. LLC in its threatened proxy contest against Epiq Systems, Inc. She has successfully litigated various aspects of the shareholder activism lifecycle, including advance notice bylaws, nomination disputes, entrenchment tactics, and standstill agreements.
Minji also regularly represents investment managers in litigation and arbitrations involving various aspects of their businesses, including fund disputes, partnership disputes, founder and seed agreement disputes and disputes arising from their portfolio investments. She frequently represents clients in securities actions and has successfully litigated claims arising under Sections 10(b) and 20(a), Section 16(b), and Sections 13 and 14 of the Exchange Act.
In parallel, Minji maintains an active internal investigations practice and is sought after for her commercial acumen and strategic approach. She has conducted investigations on behalf of public and private corporate clients in various sectors—including technology, healthcare/pharmaceuticals, and financial services—on sensitive matters involving regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and employment issues.
As a member of the Recruiting Committee, serves as one of the firm’s Hiring Partners.
Minji earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School and her B.A. in Economics from Barnard College, where she graduated magna cum laude.
Results
Shareholder Activism & Corporate Governance
- Represented Politan Capital Management in proxy contest litigation in the Central District of California, in which Masimo Corporation sought injunctive relief pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act. The Central District of California denied Masimo’s motion for preliminary injunction, paving the way for Masimo’s shareholders to vote for two of Politan’s nominees at Masimo’s 2024 annual meeting.
- Achieved a series of significant litigation victories on behalf venBio Select Advisor LLC in its proxy contest for majority control of the board of directors at Immunomedics, Inc.
- Successful representation of investment advisor St. Denis J. Villere & Co. LLC in proxy contest litigation against Epiq Systems, Inc., which resulted in Epiq’s nomination of three of Villere-nominated directors to the board.
Securities and Antitrust Litigation
- Obtained dismissal of Section 10(b) and 20(a) claims brought against Starboard Value LP and Jeffrey Smith in the Advance Auto Parts securities class action in the District of Delaware.
- Obtained dismissal of Criterion Capital Management from Section 16(b) short swing trading action in the Northern District of California.
- Obtained dismissal of Eminence Capital Management from Section 16(b) short swing trading action in the Southern District of New York and successfully defended the ruling in an appeal before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Obtained victory on summary judgment on behalf of Solus Alternative Asset Management in Section 16(b) short swing trading case brought in the Southern District of New York.
- Defended a major financial institution in antitrust class action litigation alleging conspiracy to manipulate platinum and palladium benchmarks and related derivatives prices.
- Represented global software companies in responding to multiple subpoenas in technology investigations.
Investment Funds & Financial Services Disputes
- Representing portfolio manager of biotech investment fund in arbitration involving partnership dispute.
- Represented portfolio manager of commodities investment fund in arbitration involving seed investment dispute.
General Commercial Litigation
- Represented a significant shareholder in Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc. in Eleventh Circuit appeal in dispute concerning shareholder’s agreement.
- Represented Ruane, Cunniff and Goldfarb in numerous federal court and arbitration proceedings in New York and Missouri alleging breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA.
- Represented an investment fund in disputes involving bankruptcy proceedings of a portfolio company.
Pro Bono
- Amicus brief on behalf of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. National Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust, et al, No. 22-01864 (3d Cir.).
- Internal investigations and advisory work on behalf of non-profit organizations.
Recognitions
- New York Super Lawyers – Rising Star, 2020 – 2025
Community
- American Bar Association (Business Law Section)
- New York State Bar Association
- Federal Bar Council
Credentials
Education
Columbia Law School, JD, Editor-in-Chief, The Morningside Muckraker
Barnard College, BA, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
New York
Courts/Agencies
US District Court, Southern District of New York
US District Court, Eastern District of New York
US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Languages
Korean
Spanish
Prior Experience
Clifford Chance US LLP, 2020 – 2023
