The new appointments are effective starting May 1
Global law firms Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) have announced the first senior leadership appointments for their merged entity, A&O Shearman.
Khalid Garousha has been elected to the senior partner role, while Hervé Ekué will take on the managing partner responsibilities at A&O Shearman. Their leadership is expected to drive the firm to achieve exceptional outcomes for clients facing complex legal and commercial challenges.
Adam Hakki, Shearman's senior partner, has been appointed co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee. In this role, Hakki will also spearhead the firm's US business as its chair, continuing to represent clients alongside his senior leadership duties actively. Doreen Lilienfeld will join Hakki in leading the US business as a co-managing partner. This role will see her continue her client representation while steering the firm's strategic direction in one of its key markets.
These appointments herald the first of many leadership roles to be announced for A&O Shearman, with future positions set to draw from the vast talent pools of both founding firms.
Khalid Garousha expressed his honour at being trusted to lead A&O Shearman as its first senior partner. "Working closely with Hervé, Adam, Doreen, and other senior leadership, as A&O Shearman, we will take forward our combined expertise and deep legal knowledge to achieve unparalleled outcomes for our clients on their increasingly complex legal and commercial challenges, wherever they and we operate in the world," Garousha said.
Adam Hakki shared his excitement about his new role, "I am very much looking 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 centred 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."
Hervé Ekué and Doreen Lilienfeld echoed sentiments of anticipation and commitment to fostering an environment that values and nurtures the firm's people, enabling them to excel and contribute to its transformative journey.
"A&O Shearman will bring together some of the greatest legal talent in the world while maintaining a focus on clients, our people and wider society. I'm delighted to pass the leadership baton to Khalid, Hervé, Adam and Doreen on May 1, and I wish them all every success in their new roles at A&O Shearman," Wim Dejonghe, A&O's current senior partner, said.
The new appointments are effective starting May 1.
