Linklaters LLP has appointed Maria Zaino as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Americas, a strategic move aligned with the firm’s ongoing expansion in the United States. Zaino transitions to Linklaters from A&O Shearman, where she held the position of Executive Advisor to U.S. Management and COO for three global practice groups. Prior to the merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, she served in various executive roles at Shearman & Sterling, including Global Business Director for Corporate and M&A. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with George Casey, now Linklaters’ Chairman of the Americas.
Casey emphasized the significance of Zaino’s appointment, stating that her extensive operational expertise and experience with Wall Street firms will be instrumental as Linklaters continues to build a market-leading U.S. practice integrated within its global platform. Zaino expressed enthusiasm about joining Linklaters during this period of growth, highlighting the firm’s combination of a world-class global platform with a rapidly expanding U.S. practice.
This appointment follows Linklaters’ recent strategic hires aimed at strengthening its U.S. presence. In January 2024, the firm brought on a six-lawyer M&A team from Shearman & Sterling, led by George Casey, who was then serving as Shearman’s Global Managing Partner. This team has since been involved in significant transactions, including advising Rio Tinto on its $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium. Additionally, in September 2024, Linklaters added Michael Torkin, a senior restructuring and insolvency partner from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, to lead its U.S. Capital Solutions & Special Situations practice.
The firm’s commitment to U.S. expansion is further evidenced by the appointment of George Casey as Chairman of the Americas in January 2025. In this role, Casey focuses on advancing Linklaters’ domestic strategy and enhancing its presence in the competitive U.S. legal market. These strategic moves underscore Linklaters’ dedication to building a robust U.S. practice that complements its global operations.