Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merge to establish first fully integrated global elite law firm

Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merge to establish first fully integrated global elite law firm

The firm will have 800 partners and 3,900 lawyers across 49 offices

Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have announced a merger to create a unique global law firm named Allen Overy Shearman Sterling (A&O Shearman).

With a combined experience of 250 years and some of the greatest legal talent in the world, it will be the only global firm with US law, English law, and local law capabilities in equal measure.

Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling are complementary with distinct market leadership. They have huge strength in the US, the UK, and markets across the globe.

The merger is driven by clients’ needs for a seamless global offering of the highest quality and depth to support them in navigating an increasingly complex legal, regulatory, and geopolitical environment. It will transform their offering to clients. While Shearman & Sterling will gain access to a dramatically expanded ‘rest of the world’ offering across practice areas, Allen & Overy will benefit from increased board-level recognition and expanded access to a corporate client base in the US.

The combined firm will be perfectly positioned to capitalize on global macro trends, including energy transition, technology, and private capital.

Wim Dejonghe, the senior partner at Allen & Overy, remarked, “The combination of two great firms is an exciting step for us. Both firms have a history of excellence, and together A&O Shearman will be a firm unlike any other in the world. We have listened to our clients and their requests for the highest quality advice to help navigate the demands they face, and to do so in an integrated and globally consistent way. We will do this by accelerating our ability to bring out the best of both firms, regardless of geography.

Dejonghe added, “Shearman & Sterling is an incredible group of legal minds; a firm built on integrity and excellence, founded like us in a premier global financial capital and with an extraordinary group of longstanding clients. What excites me about this merger is the complementary cultures of our two firms. We have striking similarities across the board, and I believe we are going to be wonderful partners to one another on this journey.”

Adam Hakki, the senior partner at Shearman & Sterling, stated, “Client needs for global elite firms has never been greater. They are calling for integrated global legal solutions and advice. Merging with Allen & Overy will dramatically accelerate our ability to meet their needs in an increasingly complex environment. Allen & Overy is an outstanding firm whose work we have long admired and thought of as a kindred spirit. We have both always placed great emphasis on attracting and retaining top talent, were early to globalize, and are relentlessly focused on quality, excellence, and collaboration.

Hakki added, “This is truly a game-changing moment for both firms that will create an unparalleled offering for our clients. It is also a fantastic opportunity for our people to be part of a transformative transaction and an institution of such significance, and we look forward to recruiting even more stellar talent in the coming years.”