London and New York, April 8, 2024 – Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) today announce the first partner promotions for the combined firm, A&O Shearman. A total of 40 partners have been elected to the partnership by their current respective firms. A&O elected 32 partners and Shearman elected eight, consistent with the relative size of the two firms and their geographic footprints. They will join the A&O Shearman partnership upon the merger closing on May 1, 2024.
The promotions have been made across 15 different offices in 11 countries. In total, there were 13 promotions in the United States, nine in the United Kingdom,13 across Continental Europe, one in The Middle East and four in Asia.
Khalid Garousha, interim managing partner at A&O said:
"We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of lawyers to the A&O Shearman partnership. I am also pleased that 42% of those promoted across both firms are women, in line with our goal of increasing diversity. These partners will bring a wealth of expertise to our soon-to-be merged firm, providing exceptional service to our clients in the world’s most dynamic markets.”
Adam Hakki, senior partner at Shearman, said:
“I would like to congratulate this exceptionally talented group of lawyers on their promotions. They each have an outstanding track record of delivering for our clients and the firm, and they are a fitting group to be the first new partner class of A&O Shearman. The diversity, geographical breadth and range of expertise of these outstanding professionals demonstrates the quality and depth of the combined firm around the world. I am confident they will continue to accomplish great things and will be wonderful partners in every respect.”
The elected partners are:
Allen & Overy
United States
New York
Lena Kiely, International Capital Markets
Puja Patel, Corporate
Derek Poon, International Capital Markets
Washington D.C.
Michael Sykes, Banking
Gideon Wiginton, Banking
United Kingdom
London
Tim Bates, International Capital Markets
Imogen Carr, Corporate
Vanessa Morgan, Management
Rebecca Noble, Banking
Rachel O'Reilly, Banking
Kate Pumfrey, Litigation
Alex Shandro, Corporate
Jason Symington, Banking
David Weaver, Corporate
Continental Europe
Brussels, Belgium
Axel de Backer, Banking
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Luke Whibley, Banking
Paris, France
Laurie-Anne Ancenys, Corporate
Charles del Valle, Tax
Anne-Caroline Payelle, Corporate
Düsseldorf, Germany
Catharina Glugla, Corporate
Munich, Germany
Rauni Ahammer, Banking
Frankfurt, Germany
Tim Drach, Tax
David Schmid, Litigation
Sebastian Schulz, Litigation
Luxembourg
Baptiste Aubry, International Capital Markets
Franz Kerger, Tax
Madrid, Spain
Ishtar Sancho, Tax
The Middle East
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Arash Koozehkanani, Litigation
Asia
Jakarta, Indonesia
Mohammad Andrew, International Capital Markets
Singapore
Matthew Del Rosso, Banking
Jessica Lee, Banking
Ayesha Thapar, Corporate
Shearman & Sterling
United States
New York
Melisa Brower, Compensation, Governance and ERISA
Jonathan Cheng, Antitrust
Joshua Ebersole, Litigation
Jai Garg, Compensation, Governance and ERISA
Christopher Glenn, Mergers & Acquisitions
Leila Siddiky, Litigation
Washington D.C.
Brian Hauser, Antitrust
Austin
Michelle Kwan, Emerging Growth
Media contact
Shearman & Sterling
Leticia Correa
Leticia.Correa@shearman.com /+44 20 7655 5636
Notes to editors
In May 2023, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announced a planned merger to create a unique global law firm, A&O Shearman. Together, A&O Shearman will have ~3,900 lawyers and ~800 partners across 29 countries.
In October 2023, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announced that the partnerships of both firms voted in favor of merging to create A&O Shearman, the first fully-integrated global elite law firm. More than 99% of the votes cast at each firm were in favor of the merger—a powerful testament to the strength of the combination and partner support for it. The firms are now in a period of active integration planning while they work together toward final closing of the transaction. The target date for the merger to be completed by is May 1, 2024.
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Allen & Overy LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC306763. Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 07462870. Allen & Overy LLP and Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited are authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales.
The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or a director of Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited or, in either case, an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP’s affiliated undertakings. A list of the members of Allen & Overy LLP and of the non-members who are designated as partners, and a list of the directors of Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited, is open to inspection at our registered office at One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD.
Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,800 people, including some 590 partners, working in more than 40 offices worldwide. A current list of Allen & Overy offices is available at allenovery.com/locations.
www.allenovery.com
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP is a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware for the practice of law in the United Kingdom. Shearman & Sterling is a partnership organized under the Hong Kong Partnership Ordinance and registered with the Law Society of Hong Kong for the practice of law in Hong Kong. Shearman & Sterling LLP practices in Italy in association with Studio Legale Associato Shearman & Sterling. Shearman & Sterling LLP operates in association with The Law Firm of Dr. Sultan Almasoud for the practice of law in Saudi Arabia.
www.shearman.com