Rachel Goldman
Managing Director
Rachel provides strategic communications counsel to management teams and boards of directors across industries and in high-intensity circumstances. With a thoughtful and measured approach, she helps clients navigate complex special situations, including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism defense, management transitions, crisis management, restructurings and reductions in force, spin-offs, and litigation. She also supports companies with ongoing investor relations and media relations – including reputation management and profile raising through strategic media engagement or thought leadership opportunities.
Credentials
Rachel received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was able to blend her passion for art history with her academic interests in business, media studies, psychology and sociology. Rachel joined Joele Frank in 2017 from Macy’s, Inc., where she served on the Marketing & Special Events team.
Recent Highlights
Select Experience
M&A/Transactions
Rachel’s recent M&A experience includes, among others: Johnson & Johnson in its acquisition of Abiomed; Vista Outdoor in its sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group and sale of Revelyst to SVP; Air Transport Services Group in its sale to Stonepeak; Apollo in its acquisition of International Game Technology and Everi Holdings; and Kaman in its sale to Arcline Investment Management.
Shareholder Activism Defense
Rachel has supported companies in public and private activist situations opposite some of the most notable activist investors, including Starboard Value, Elliott Management, Carl Icahn, Ancora, Engaged Capital, Anson Funds, among others.
Crisis Communications
Rachel has advised numerous clients on crisis preparedness and real-time response related to a range of issues including various cybersecurity events, litigation, management succession and unplanned leadership changes, workplace accidents, workforce reductions, employee misconduct issues, fraud and accounting irregularities, earnings surprises and restatements.
Investor Relations
She partners closely with her clients to develop and enhance ongoing investor and public relations programs to help companies achieve their business objectives. She regularly assists a range of clients across industries with message development, quarterly earnings preparation, investor conferences, employee communications and general profile-raising activities.
Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Liability Management
Rachel has experience in communications related to both out-of-court restructurings and in-court filings under Chapter 11, as well as Section 363 transactions. Select assignments include Gymboree, Pier 1, PG&E, Global Eagle Entertainment, Mallinckrodt, Southcross Energy and Skillsoft, among others.
In Conversation
Personal Side
Rachel helped found JF Gives Back, the firm’s charitable giving group, with the mission of supporting important causes through meaningful service. JF Gives Back holds a number of annual events focused on service and/or giving, including card writing to children’s hospitals, back-to-school initiatives to provide underprivileged students the tools they need to succeed, Thanksgiving canned food drives, and Operation Santa to bring joy during the holiday season (among others). Our goal is to make a difference in the New York and San Francisco communities that we call home, and we’re incredibly proud of all we have accomplished to date.