Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP (commonly A&O Shearman) is a multinational law firm. The firm was formed as a result of a merger between Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy and white shoe firm Shearman & Sterling, creating a firm estimated to have nearly 4,000 attorneys across 49 offices with a combined revenue of $3.4 billion, making it the third biggest law firm in the world.[1]
History
The terms of the merger between Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy and white shoe firm Shearman & Sterling were announced on 21 May 2023[2] and approved on 13 October 2023 by more than 99% of partners from both firms.[3] The merger was completed on 1 May 2024, making it the fourth-largest law firm in the world.[4][5] Khalid Garousha was elected as senior partner and Hervé Ekué was elected as managing partner of A&O Shearman following the merger.[6]
In September 2024, A&O Shearman announced that they would shut down their South African offices and instead support its Sub-Saharan clients from its other global offices.[7] In January 2025, 57 former members of A&O Shearman in South Africa, including 14 partners, joined Bowmans.[8][9]
In April 2025, during the targeting of law firms and lawyers under the second Trump administration, A&O Shearman in the United States agreed to a deal with President Donald Trump, committing to provide $125 million in pro bono legal work on behalf of causes endorsed by Trump, in order to avoid punitive executive orders.[10][11]
External links
References
- Mark Sweney. Law firms Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling plan to merge in $3.4bn deal The Guardian, 2023-05-22, retrieved 2023-06-08^
- Kate Beioley. Allen & Overy and Shearman plan merger to create $3.4bn law firm Financial Times, 2023-05-21, retrieved 2023-05-21^
- David Thomas, Sara Merken, David Thomas, Sara Merken. A&O Shearman merger would be a blockbuster, but maybe not a harbinger Reuters, 2023-05-22, retrieved 2023-05-25^
- Sara Merken. A&O Shearman joins ranks of major transatlantic law firm mergers Reuters, 1 May 2024, retrieved 3 May 2024^
- Mahira Dayal. A&O Shearman Launch Tests Firm’s Ability to Crack Big Law Elite Bloomberg Law^
- A&O Shearman elects leadership team effective in May once merger completes CityAM, 1 March 2024, retrieved 12 December 2025^
- Andrew Mizner. A&O Shearman to close Johannesburg office African Law Business, 9 September 2024, retrieved 6 January 2025^
- Bowmans welcomes legal team from A&O Shearman South Africa in strategic expansion Bowmans, 6 January 2025, retrieved 6 January 2025^
- Mizner Andrew. A&O Shearman Johannesburg partners to join Bowmans African Law Business, 3 October 2024, retrieved 6 January 2025^
- Matthew Goldstein. Five More Big Law Firms Reach Deals With Trump The New York Times, 2025-04-11, retrieved 2025-04-12^
- Trump says five more law firms agree to pro bono work to avoid punitive executive orders The Guardian, retrieved 26 March 2026^