The new firm has 4,000 lawyers across 29 countries, generating combined revenues of $3.5 billion
A&O Shearman has announced the successful completion of the merger of global law firms Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling.
The newly established firm boasts nearly 4,000 lawyers, including about 800 partners, across 47 offices in 29 countries, generating combined revenues of approximately $3.5 billion.
Khalid Garousha, senior partner at A&O Shearman, remarked on the merger's completion, "Today we begin an exciting journey as a new firm—a firm that has an unrivalled global platform to offer our clients. A platform like no other. A&O Shearman is a new industry leader with unmatched experience, a unique culture, and truly global capabilities.”
Read next: What you should do with employees after a merger or acquisition
Adam Hakki, co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee, emphasized the strategic alignment behind the merger. "The combination of two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, with complementary strengths and shared values, has been carefully designed to deliver – at the highest level – what the firms’ respective clients and colleagues have told us they are seeking and will find nowhere else,” Hakki said.
The firm already serves a significant portion of the global market, advising more than a third of the businesses listed on the New York Stock Exchange and a fifth on the NASDAQ, along with major organizations on other international exchanges.
The structure of A&O Shearman will cater to the needs of clients through a matrix of global practice groups and industry sectors. Practice groups such as mergers & acquisitions, litigation & investigations, and debt finance will handle global matters, ensuring collaboration across different regions and maintaining a consistent service offering.
To further deepen its industry relationships, A&O Shearman has identified six key sectors: energy & infrastructure, established industries, financial institutions, life sciences, private capital/private equity, and technology. These sectors will cross practices, products, and geographies, supported by experienced lawyers worldwide.
“What both firms had in common, and what A&O Shearman will continue to provide, is a deep commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation. I know of no other firm in the world that can combine our market coverage, depth of experience, and innovative approach,” said Hervé Ekué, managing partner at A&O Shearman.
