A&O Shearman’s Senior Appointments Revealed 

In a significant move marking the beginning of its unified leadership structure, the newly formed entity A&O Shearman has revealed the first wave of senior appointments, set to take effect on May 1, 2024. This announcement comes as Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) continue their integration process following the merger. 

The combined firm, A&O Shearman, has disclosed the appointment of Abu Dhabi based Khalid Garousha, currently serving at A&O as interim Global Managing Partner and Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East and Turkey as its senior partner.  

Joining Garousha in the senior leadership team is Hervé Ekué, the Managing Partner of A&O’s Paris office, who has been elected as the managing partner of A&O Shearman.  

In another key development, Adam Hakki, the current senior partner at Shearman, has been appointed as the co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee. Hakki will also assume the role of chair for the firm’s U.S. business, while maintaining his active involvement in client representation alongside his senior leadership responsibilities. 

Complementing Hakki’s leadership, Doreen Lilienfeld, currently serving as Shearman’s Global Managing Partner, will take on the role of co-managing partner of the U.S. business within A&O Shearman. 

Khalid Garousha, senior partner, said: “I am honoured that the partnership has put its trust in me 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.” 

Adam Hakki, co-chair of the A&O Shearman global board and executive committee and chair of the firm’s U.S. business, said: “I am honoured and excited to be taking on these senior leadership roles for A&O Shearman. 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, 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.” 

Hervé Ekué, managing partner, said: “I look forward to working as managing partner of A&O Shearman with Khalid, Adam and Doreen to create an environment which embraces and values our people and enables them to grow, thrive and flourish both as individuals and as part of this transformational new firm.” 

Doreen Lilienfeld, co-managing partner of U.S. business, said: “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, and we will do so with a forward-looking approach to delivering excellence and innovation. I am excited for what is to come and the opportunity to play a leadership role in the firm’s growing U.S. business.” 

Wim Dejonghe, current senior partner at A&O, added: “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.”