A&O Shearman elects three new partners in the Middle East
A&O Shearman has promoted 33 lawyers to its partnership, effective May 1, 2026, deepening its capabilities across practices and markets worldwide. The promotions span 14 countries and 18 offices, reflecting the firm’s commitment to supporting clients wherever they do business.
The cohort covers every major market in which the firm operates, with 14 promotions across Continental Europe, nine in the United Kingdom, four in the United States, three in Asia Pacific, two in the Middle East, and one in Africa.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) saw the largest number of new partners, followed by Global Financial Markets and Antitrust. There were further promotions across Debt Finance, Employment Litigation, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (ENRI), Financial Services Regulatory, Litigation and Investigations, Tax, and Real Estate.
Khalid Garousha, senior partner at A&O Shearman, said, “It is a proud moment to see this group step into the partnership. They bring expertise and judgement our clients rely on for their most complex, cross-border challenges. Each of our new partners champions the commitment to excellence, client service, collegiality, and ambition that defines our firm.”
The three new partners promoted in the Middle East are:
- Harsha Kumar, M&A, Dubai
- Mosaed AlAjeel, ENRI, Riyadh
- Nathalie Zanardo, M&A, Casablanca
David Foster, Dubai managing partner commented, “These promotions reflect both the exceptional quality of our people and the continued growth of our firm across the region. Nathalie, Harsha, and Mosaed each bring deep sector knowledge, strong client relationships, and a clear sense of leadership to our partnership. Their appointments underline our long‑term commitment and our ambition to support clients on their most complex and strategic matters.”
