Activist Advisor Longacre Square Taps Veteran for London Expansion

NEW YORK & LONDON – March 05, 2026 – Longacre Square Partners (LSP), a specialist advisory firm that has rapidly ascended to the top of shareholder activism advisory rankings, has officially launched its European operations with a new office in London’s Mayfair district. The firm has appointed veteran financial communications expert Humza Vanderman as Partner and Head of London to spearhead the expansion, a strategic move designed to capitalize on a surge in corporate activity across the region.

The announcement confirms LSP's transition from a highly active participant in the European market to a permanent fixture. The firm, which Bloomberg’s Global Shareholder Activism Review ranked as the #1 international IR/PR advisor in 2025, is planting its flag in a market ripe with both opportunity and competition. This expansion formalizes the firm's significant work in the region, which included advising on dozens of activist campaigns, corporate transactions, and litigations throughout 2025 and early 2026.

A Calculated Entry into a Hot Market

Longacre Square Partners' move into London is timed to coincide with a period of intense activity and cautious optimism in the European financial markets. After a strong finish to 2025, where the UK re-emerged as Europe's largest M&A market by value, the outlook for 2026 points toward continued, targeted deal-making, particularly in technology, energy, and healthcare sectors.

More critically for LSP's specialized focus, shareholder activism is experiencing an unprecedented boom across Europe. The UK has become the continent's most active battleground, witnessing a 44% year-on-year increase in companies targeted by activists between late 2024 and mid-2025. This trend is fueled in part by a growing number of US-based activist funds turning their attention to European opportunities, employing increasingly public and assertive tactics to drive their agendas. With the industrials and technology sectors flagged as prime targets for upcoming campaigns, the demand for sophisticated defense and advisory services is escalating.

LSP enters this environment with a formidable track record. In 2025, the firm was not only ranked #1 globally but was also the top-ranked advisor to European investors, representing funds with a staggering $5.5 billion in collective investments across the continent. By establishing a physical presence, LSP is positioning itself to offer more direct, on-the-ground support to its existing client base and attract new business from companies and investors navigating this complex landscape.

The Architect of European Ambitions

At the heart of LSP’s European strategy is Humza Vanderman, a seasoned advisor with two decades of experience in high-stakes corporate and financial situations. His appointment signals the firm’s commitment to embedding deep regional expertise from day one. Vanderman is a well-known figure in the London advisory scene, bringing a wealth of experience from senior roles at major global firms.

He joins LSP from DGA Global, where he was a member of the initial group of partners that launched the business. Before that, he spent more than ten years at FGS Global (formerly Finsbury Glover Hering), where he was a Managing Director and served a three-year term in the firm's Singapore office, giving him a broad perspective on cross-border transactions and communications challenges across both EMEA and Asia.

His expertise directly aligns with the market's most pressing needs, encompassing complex M&A, take-private deals, shareholder activism, IPOs, and restructurings. He has also guided clients through sensitive crises, including cyber breaches, regulatory investigations, and high-profile litigation. This background makes him uniquely qualified to build out LSP's London team and service offerings.

Dan Zacchei, a Managing Partner of LSP, highlighted this fit, stating, “Greg and I are pleased to welcome Humza, who shares our view that clients navigating today’s markets need highly experienced advisors with capital markets acumen, corporate governance insight and a data-driven approach to providing counsel.” Zacchei added, “He is a proven business builder and leader who we know can successfully spearhead our growth plans for the region.”

In his own statement, Vanderman expressed his enthusiasm for joining a firm known for its results-driven approach. “LSP is a leading advisor to companies and investors involved in the most complex corporate and financial situations, consistently delivering tangible value for clients,” he said. “I’m delighted to be joining and to be working with Dan, Greg, and the stellar LSP team to bring the same approach – an unrelenting desire to win for clients – to London and to provide advice and support across the region.”

Competing in a Crowded Field

The London corporate advisory market is one of the most competitive in the world, home to global powerhouses like Brunswick Group, FGS Global, and Kekst CNC, as well as a host of specialized and regional firms. Longacre Square Partners enters this arena not as a generalist but as a focused specialist, leveraging its proven dominance in the shareholder activism space as its key differentiator.

While larger competitors offer a broad suite of services, LSP has built its reputation on excelling in high-stakes, contentious situations that require a unique blend of financial acumen, strategic communications, and an intricate understanding of corporate governance. The firm’s model, which has proven highly successful in the US, relies on senior-level counsel for clients embroiled in proxy fights, M&A battles, and other special situations. By bringing this specialized model to London, LSP is betting that a growing number of European companies and investors will seek out its focused expertise over the broader offerings of its larger rivals.

This European expansion is not just an opportunistic venture but a core component of the firm's global strategy. As Dan Zacchei noted, the move reflects a commitment to “continuing to identify and invest in new initiatives that benefit our clients across the world.” With an established team on the ground in Mayfair and a leader with deep roots in the market, Longacre Square Partners is now fully equipped to translate its American success into a powerful European presence.