Quinlan Partners Taps Top Investigators Amid Surging Shareholder Activism

NEW YORK, NY – June 04, 2026 – In a move that underscores the escalating complexities of the corporate landscape, global advisory firm Quinlan Partners has announced the strategic hiring of two veteran investigative professionals, Lisa Silverman and Mark Skertic. The appointments significantly expand the firm’s Chicago office and deepen its expertise at a time when shareholder activism and corporate scrutiny are reaching unprecedented levels.

This is more than a routine expansion; it's a calculated response to a business world where reputational risk, cross-border disputes, and investor-led challenges are no longer outliers but standard operational pressures. By bringing Silverman and Skertic into the fold, Quinlan Partners is fortifying its position as a go-to counsel for boards and executives navigating these turbulent waters.

A Strategic Reinforcement of the Senior Bench

The addition of Silverman and Skertic represents a significant talent acquisition for the award-winning firm. Paul Quinlan, the firm's Founder and CEO, framed the move as a major step forward in building a "premier global advisory platform." He noted, "Their combined decades of experience include some of the most complex and high-profile matters in investigations, shareholder activism, and strategic advisory."

Lisa Silverman, who will co-chair the firm's Shareholder Activism Practice, is a nationally recognized figure in the field, ranked by Chambers USA for her work in Business Intelligence & Investigations. Her career has been defined by leading high-stakes, cross-border investigations into everything from fraud and undisclosed criminal activities to conflicts of interest and unethical business practices. Clients praise her for an ability to cut through the noise and identify "the issues that matter."

"Having spent my career arming my clients with facts to navigate complicated, high-pressure situations, Quinlan Partners is the perfect place for me to take this work to the next level," Silverman said in a statement. "The firm has built an industry-leading reputation for sophisticated, innovative investigative work and trusted client service."

Joining her is Mark Skertic, whose background provides a unique blend of journalistic rigor and corporate investigative prowess. Before moving into corporate consulting, Skertic was an award-winning investigative reporter at major publications like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, earning a National Headliner Award for his work. He brings over two decades of experience managing complex investigations involving litigation support, asset tracing, and high-stakes due diligence.

"The best investigative work helps clients anticipate potential problems and react to unexpected situations," Skertic commented, highlighting the proactive nature of modern corporate intelligence. His perspective underscores a fundamental shift in the industry: from reactive damage control to preemptive strategic positioning.

Navigating the New Age of Shareholder Activism

Silverman’s appointment to co-chair the shareholder activism practice alongside Adina Holzman is particularly timely. The move comes as shareholder activism evolves from a niche threat into a persistent, global force. As Holzman noted, "Activism is no longer episodic. Boards need a standing capability, not a fire drill."

This assessment reflects a stark market reality. The year 2024 saw nearly 600 public activist campaigns in the U.S. alone, a 7% increase from the prior year. Globally, the trend is even more pronounced, with a record 297 campaigns waged in 2025, marking the third consecutive record-breaking year. Experts predict this momentum will continue, fueled by a potential new wave of M&A-focused activism.

Critically, the profile of the activist is also changing. A significant portion of recent campaigns were initiated by first-time activists, indicating that the playbook is no longer exclusive to a handful of well-known funds. Institutional investors and minority shareholders are becoming more vocal, leveraging new regulations like the universal proxy card to challenge boards and demand strategic changes. The result is a more unpredictable and challenging environment for corporate leadership. The number of CEOs departing U.S. companies within a year of an activist demand nearly tripled in 2024, a clear indicator of the pressure boards are under.

Silverman and Holzman’s combined leadership aims to provide clients with the continuous intelligence and strategic counsel needed to navigate this landscape. "Our clients don't just come to us for intelligence," Holzman added. "They come to us for the broader strategic advice they need to protect their interests on issues that matter most."

The Rise of the Corporate Intelligence Vanguard

The strategic hires at Quinlan Partners are emblematic of a broader trend: the institutionalization of deep-dive investigations and business intelligence as a core corporate function. Firms like Quinlan, composed of former investigative journalists, attorneys, and digital forensics experts, have become indispensable architects of corporate strategy and defense.

Quinlan Partners has steadily built a formidable reputation in this elite space. It has been repeatedly named a top global investigations firm by Chambers and Partners and was a finalist for Business Intelligence Firm of the Year at the 2026 Chambers USA Awards. Accolades like Private Equity Wire's 2025 "Strategic Intelligence Provider of the Year" and recognition from Legal 500 reinforce its standing among a select group of firms capable of handling high-stakes global matters.

Their work extends far beyond public-facing proxy battles. It involves the granular, often unseen, efforts of pre-transactional due diligence, where they might uncover a partner’s hidden sanctions violations or a target company’s fraudulent accounting. It includes internal investigations into potential corruption, asset tracing in complex litigation, and vetting C-suite candidates to prevent costly mis-hires. This is the proactive intelligence Skertic referred to—the kind that allows a company to make critical decisions about a merger, a market entry, or a legal strategy with a clear view of the risks involved.

By adding the firepower of Silverman and Skertic, Quinlan Partners is not just expanding its roster; it is deepening its capacity to deliver the nuanced, actionable intelligence that has become non-negotiable for survival and growth in today's business world.