A&O Shearman merger approved

Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announced that the partnerships of both firms have voted in favor of merging to create A&O Shearman. More than 99 per cent of the votes cast at each firm were in favour of the merger – a powerful testament to the strength of the combination and partner support for it.

This merger will combine two of the world’s leading law firms, with complementary strengths and cultures. Together, they will create an unparalleled firm with a forward-looking approach to delivering excellence and innovation for clients’ most complex matters. With a global offering of the highest quality, A&O Shearman will be ideally placed to provide local and cross-border support to clients as they navigate an increasingly complex legal, regulatory, and geopolitical environment. The firms will now embark on a period of active integration planning, while they work together toward final closing of the transaction, which is anticipated in or before May 2024.

Wim Dejonghe, senior partner at Allen & Overy, said, “This is a historic moment for both firms and our profession. We are delighted that our partners have voted so resoundingly in favor of this merger, which is a transformational step for the legal industry. We have long admired Shearman & Sterling for its outstanding reputation, talent, and client base, and we are confident that together we will create a truly exceptional global firm that will serve our clients’ needs in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.”

Adam Hakki, senior partner at Shearman & Sterling, said, “Our partners have recogniaed and welcomed this unparalleled opportunity to combine our individual market leadership and brands to serve clients as an integrated global law firm, preeminent in all our markets. A&O Shearman will be a firm unlike any other in the world, built to achieve exceptional outcomes for our clients through an intentional focus on quality, excellence, and collaboration. We are creating a new industry leader, with truly global capabilities, and we are excited for what is to come.”

With combined experience advising many of the world’s leading corporations and financial institutions, governments and governmental organizations, A&O Shearman has a distinguished heritage – reflecting Allen & Overy’s roots as a City of London firm founded in 1930 and Shearman & Sterling’s founding in 1873 in New York City.