Allen & Overy to merge with US firm Shearman & Sterling

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Allen & Overy to merge with US firm Shearman & Sterling

Allen & Overy

The combined firm would have 3,900 lawyers and 800 partners across 49 offices

UK-headquartered Allen & Overy is to merge with US-based Shearman & Sterling, the firms jointly announced yesterday, May 21.

In a statement, the firms said the proposed merger would create a new global leader named Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, or A&O Shearman for short. The combined firm would have 3,900 lawyers and 800 partners across 49 offices.

According to the firms, it would be the only global firm that offered US, UK and local law capabilities in equal measure.

The planned merger comes at an intriguing time for both firms. In March, Shearman & Sterling abandoned talks over a tie-up with Hogan Lovells, while A&O previously pursued a merger with another US firm, O'Melveny & Myers.

A&O senior partner Wim Dejonghe said in a statement that the firm had long admired Shearman & Sterling’s work and outstanding legal talent.

“I have been so pleased by the striking cultural similarities between us and Shearman & Sterling. We are expecting this cultural fit to ease the path to integration and that our clients will be reassured by the familiarity in the quality and tone of the counsel they seek.”

Adam Hakki, senior partner at Shearman & Sterling, said: “Client need for global elite firms has never been greater. They are calling for integrated global legal solutions and advice: merging with A&O will dramatically accelerate our ability to meet their needs in an increasingly complex environment.”

The plans are subject to an approvals process, which includes a partner vote on both sides.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Deals between five more law firms and President Trump and an antitrust lawsuit against Amgen were also among the top talking points this week
US counsel explain how they win new cleantech IP business and how they’re navigating the industry’s challenges
Leaders at the IP firms, which have joined forces with backing from a PE investor, share their vision of building the number one pan-European IP practice
Firms will steer clients towards other ways of getting quicker examinations, but fear the ramifications of the USPTO’s decision
Melissa Haapala added that returning to client advocacy and the chance to work on patent litigation were reasons for returning to private practice
Michelle Clark, who has a generalist litigation background, plans to focus on IP disputes at Alston & Bird
Philips and Vivo have entered into a licensing agreement, putting an end to a five-year-old telecom SEP dispute in India
Stefan Müller discusses managing deadlines, the importance of reflection, and why IP is more than just a 'nice to have'
The three founders of the IP firm’s new US offering say they plan to offer a unique proposition in a market fixated by the billable hour
The opinion provides useful guidance when it comes to how courts might consider contributory infringement, DMCA claims, and other issues in AI copyright cases
Gift this article