The legal landscape is watching a major development unfold as A&O Shearman, the firm soon to be created from the merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, has elected its senior leadership. Khalid Garousha, currently serving as interim global managing partner of Allen & Overy, will assume the role of senior partner in the new entity.
Joining him at the helm will be Hervé Ekué, currently the Paris managing partner of Allen & Overy, who is set to become the managing partner of A&O Shearman. Furthermore, Adam Hakki, currently occupying the position of senior partner at Shearman & Sterling, New York, will take the double role of co-chair for the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee, and chair for the US business. In addition, he will continue to attend to clients.
Alongside him, Doreen Lilienfeld, Shearman’s global managing partner, will function as co-managing partner of the US business, while also continuing to represent her clients. These appointments have been announced as part of the long-awaited merger between the two firms, scheduled for closure on May 1.
The merger was announced back in May 2023 and received overwhelming support in the subsequent partner votes at the individual firms in October. With a favourable vote of more than 99% at each firm, the combined operation will now host close to 3,900 lawyers and 800 partners across 48 offices globally.
The senior leadership of A&O Shearman was selected through an election process at Allen & Overy, where eight candidates competed for the top roles. Further leadership appointments are planned and will include members from both merging firms, details of which will be announced at a later date.
“I am honored that the partnership has put its trust in me to lead A&O Shearman as its first senior partner”, remarked Garousha. Hakki also voiced his enthusiasm, stating that he’s “very much looking forward to working closely with our soon-to-be new partners and leadership team.”
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