King & Spalding has appointed Richard Fields director of corporate stakeholder engagement—a new position formed in response to the growing pressures on corporate boards in an era of fervent shareholder activism.

“The evolution of the corporate governance and shareholder landscape and the underlying structural factors driving this change requires us to adapt to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our clients,” said James Woolery, head of King & Spalding’s M&A and corporate governance division, said in a statement. “The depth and breadth of Rich’s expertise, insights and connections make him an outstanding addition to our corporate practice.”