About Herbert S. Wander

Herbert Wander is co-chair of Katten's Corporate Governance practice. He focuses on all aspects of securities law and business law, especially corporate governance. Herb is also the chief legal architect for many major merger and acquisition transactions both negotiated and hostile.

Recognized as a national leader in corporate governance and securities

In December 2004, Herb was appointed by then Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman William H. Donaldson as a co-chair of the SEC's Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies. The committee examined the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on smaller public companies and published its final report in 2006. Many of its recommendations were implemented by the SEC and Congress.

Herb represents boards, independent directors and audit committees at numerous public companies. He serves as a director and chair of the compensation committee and audit committee member for nonclient Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a $3.2 billion public market cap telecommunications company. In addition, he served as a director and secretary of Advance Ross Corporation, a publicly held corporation. He also served two terms on the Legal Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange Board of Governors. And in 2015, he was one of the founding trustees of the newly formed American College of Governance Counsel.

An accomplished lecturer, Herb frequently speaks at various business and legal organizations. These include the National Association of Corporate Directors and the American Law Institute–American Bar Association. In addition, Herb has authored numerous articles and book reviews published in the Yale Law Journal, The Business Lawyer and other professional publications.

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Practice Focus

  • Corporate
  • Corporate governance
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Securities
  • Entrepreneurial ventures
  • Private equity
  • Securities litigation

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Yale Law School, LLB
  • University of Michigan, AB
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Past Chair
  • American Israel Friendship League
  • American Law Institute
  • Community Family Center of Highland Park, President
  • Economic Club of Chicago
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Jerusalem Foundation
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Past President
  • Jewish United Fund, Past Campaign Chair
  • Michael Reese Health Trust, Chair
  • The Chicago Bar Association
Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Corporate Compliance Law | Corporate Governance Law | Corporate Law | Mergers and Acquisitions Law | Securities/Capital Markets Law | Securities Regulation, 1983–2021
    Lawyer of the Year
    Securities Regulation, Chicago, 2019
    Securities Regulation, Chicago, 2013
    Securities/Capital Markets Law, Chicago, 2012
    Corporate Law, Chicago, 2011
  • Chambers Global
    Corporate M&A
    USA, 2010–2011
    Senior Statesmen
    2012– 2018
  • Chambers USA
    Corporate/M&A, 2006–2017
  • Crain's Chicago Business
    Who's Who in Chicago Business, 2010
  • InterContinental Finance Magazine
    IFCM Leading Lawyers 500
  • The International Who's Who of Corporate Governance Lawyers
    2005–2013, 2016
  • Lawdragon
    500 finalist, 2010
  • Leading Lawyers Network
    Top 250 Leading Business Lawyers in Illinois, 2014
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2014
  • Super Lawyers
    Illinois, 2005–2018
  • Who's Who in America
  • Who's Who in American Law
  • Who's Who in the Midwest
  • Who's Who in the World