A&O Shearman Announces Key Leadership Positions

A&O Shearman Announces Key Leadership Positions

Other appointments will be revealed in due course

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling have announced the first of several senior leadership roles for the combined new firm A&O Shearman, effective 01 May 2024.

While Khalid Garousha has been elected as senior partner, Hervé Ekué is the managing partner.

Meanwhile, Adam Hakki, the current senior partner at Shearman, has been assigned the role of co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee. He will also lead the firm’s US business as its chair and continue to actively represent clients.

Doreen Lilienfeld will serve as co-managing partner of the US business and continue to represent clients.

Speaking on his new position, Garousha remarked, “I am honored that the partnership has put its trust in me to lead A&O Shearman as its first senior partner. Working closely with Ekué, Hakki, Lilienfeld and others, we will take forward our combined expertise and deep legal knowledge to achieve unparalleled outcomes for our clients globally on their increasingly complex legal and commercial challenges.”

Hakki commented, “I look forward to working closely with our soon-to-be new partners and leadership team to deliver on our shared vision for an unparalleled global elite firm, centered on providing the highest level of service to clients in their most important matters worldwide. I am also pleased that these leadership roles have been designed to allow me to both serve the firm as a leader and actively represent clients in their most significant matters.”

Ekué added, “I look forward to working as a managing partner of A&O Shearman with Garousha and Hakki to create an environment that embraces and values our people and enables them to grow, thrive and flourish both as individuals and as part of this transformational new firm.”

Lilienfeld stated, “With A&O Shearman we are creating a new industry leader with truly global capabilities, and being part of this journey is incredibly exciting. We will serve clients as an integrated global law firm, preeminent in all our markets. We will do so with a forward-looking approach to delivering excellence and innovation. I’m excited for what is to come and the opportunity to play a leadership role in the firm’s growing US business.”

The current senior partner at A&O, Wim Dejonghe shared, “A&O Shearman will bring together some of the greatest legal talents in the world while maintaining a focus on clients, our people and wider society. I’m delighted to pass the leadership baton to Garousha, Ekué, Hakki and Lilienfeld and wish them success in their new roles at A&O Shearman.”