A&O Shearman Mergers and Office Locations

A&O Shearman is a leading international law firm with a global presence. It was formed by the merger of two well-established law firms, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling.

The merger created a powerhouse in the legal industry, with a combined history dating back to 1873.

A&O Shearman has a significant presence in key financial centers around the world, including London, New York, and Hong Kong.

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A&O Shearman has been busy advising on some major deals in recent times. They advised JDE Peet’s on its acquisition by Keurig Dr Pepper for €15.7 billion in August 2025.

This acquisition was a significant one, being the biggest European acquisition in over two years. It's a testament to the firm's expertise in handling complex transactions.

In April 2025, A&O Shearman advised Ageas on its acquisition of UK insurer esure from Bain Capital for £1.3 billion. This deal marked a significant move for Ageas in expanding its presence in the UK market.

A&O Shearman also advised private equity firm Apax Partners on its £700 million acquisition of Evelyn Partners’ accountancy arm in December 2024. This deal highlights the firm's ability to handle private equity transactions with ease.

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A&O Shearman is a corporate law firm that advises corporations, financial institutions, and governments across a broad range of practice areas.

The firm's banking and finance department is particularly strong, with expertise in complex financing arrangements, regulatory advice, and financial products.

A&O Shearman is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for both its borrower-side and lender-side advice on big-ticket deals.

Its corporate/M&A team is recognized for its role in high-profile, cross-border M&A transactions, offering high-quality advice to corporates and private equity firms.

A&O Shearman is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for the highest-value M&A deals.

The firm is highly skilled in both debt and equity capital markets, advising issuers and underwriters on IPOs, bond offerings, derivatives, and securitisations.

A&O Shearman has a Band 1 ranking by Chambers for both ECM and DCM work.

Additional reading: C O M M E R C I a L

A&O Shearman competes directly with the rest of the Magic Circle for the biggest mandates.

The firm's global reach means it competes with the biggest US players like Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins.

A&O Shearman recorded revenue of £2.9 billion in 2025, a significant figure that surpasses expectations of the firms that created it in a merger.

This revenue is the result of the firm's first full financial year after its creation in 2024.

The firm's pre-tax profit was $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) in the year ended April 30, 2025.

A&O Shearman's profit per equity partner (PEP) was £2 million in 2025, a figure that represents the average amount that equity partners are entitled to.

The firm's PEP is higher than those at each of the individual predecessor firms last year, according to A&O Shearman.

For more insights, see: C O N S O N a N C E

A&O Shearman collected $3.7 billion in revenue for fiscal 2025, surpassing expectations of the firms that created it in a merger.

The firm's pre-tax profit was $1.4 billion in the year ended April 30.

The revenue figure is higher than the $3.5 billion figure Allen & Overy and Shearman & Stearling said before the merger they believed would result from the combination.

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A&O Shearman's profit per equity partner was £2 million in 2025.

The partner profit figure was higher than those at each of the individual predecessor firms last year.

The firm has been hit with some departures, including nine London attorneys who left to join Latham & Watkins in June.

In 2025, A&O Shearman recorded revenue of £2.9 billion.

Salaried partners are not paid from profits.

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A&O Shearman pays its trainees and newly qualified lawyers a decent salary, with the first year trainees earning £56,000.

The salary increases to £61,000 in the second year of training.

A&O Shearman takes on around 80 trainees each year in London.

Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months. This structured approach allows them to gain a comprehensive understanding of the firm's operations.

With a focus on hands-on learning, trainees are immersed in real-world projects and tasks, developing valuable skills and expertise.

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Allen & Overy's (A&O) lawyers will be relocating to Shearman's headquarters at 599 Lexington Avenue in Midtown, New York.

This move is expected to inject new energy into the legal landscape. I've seen how a change of scenery can boost morale and productivity, and this move seems to be no exception.

Shearman's London-based team will be making a strategic move to A&O's current base at One Bishops Square in Spitalfields. This relocation will likely have a ripple effect on the London legal community.

The relocation dance between A&O and Shearman is a chessboard of strategic decisions, setting the stage for future endeavors. It's not uncommon for companies to reassess their office spaces as they grow and evolve.

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A&O Shearman aims to strengthen its private equity practice to compete at the highest level.

The firm will need to carve out a larger private equity practice to make a real dent in the US market.

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A&O Shearman's global reach could be a strategic advantage, allowing it to compete for more work from clients it has already advised in some parts of the world.

Total private credit assets are expected to reach $2.2 trillion by 2027, which could help buoy the firm's private credit practice.

A&O's private credit initiative led by Stephen Lloyd is something they are doing well and in a very organized and coordinated way.

The firm will operate under a modified lockstep with flexibility in terms of the compensation ladder and the top end, with a bonus structure.

A&O Shearman needs to be competitive from a compensation point of view to recruit and retain lawyers in an era where partners are increasingly willing to jump to the highest bidder.

For another approach, see: O B S T a C L E