First announced in late May last year, the merger will allow A&O Shearman to address the needs of clients now and in the future while further enhancing internal collaboration. It creates the only firm equally fluent in US law, English law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets.

In October last year, the partnerships of both firms voted in favour of the creation of A&O Shearman, with more than 99 per cent of votes cast at each firm in favour of the merger.

A&O Shearman will feature global practice groups in areas including M&A, litigation and investigations, debt finance and various others.

Within the new firm, six key industry sectors will also operate across practices, products and geographies: energy and infrastructure, established industries, financial institutions, life sciences, private capital/private equity and technology.

A&O Shearman senior partner Khalid Garousha said this marks the beginning of “an exciting journey” for the new firm.

“A&O Shearman is a new industry leader with unmatched experience, a unique culture and truly global capabilities. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to unlock the potential of our new firm,” he said.

“We will provide clients with the world-class integrated solutions and unparalleled regional experience and knowledge that they are looking for in today’s increasingly complex commercial and regulatory environment.”

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Co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee and chair of the firm’s US business, Adam Hakki, said clients have been supportive of the merger thus far.

“The combination of two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, with complementary strengths and shared values, has been carefully designed to deliver – at the highest level – what the firms’ respective clients and colleagues have told us they are seeking and will find nowhere else,” he said.

“The feedback we have received to date, externally and internally, has been exceedingly positive, and our clients are eager to unleash the combined power of the new firm. A&O Shearman was built to achieve exceptional outcomes for clients, and we now look forward to demonstrating that worldwide.”

According to the firm, A&O Shearman currently advises more than a third of New York Stock Exchange-listed businesses and a fifth of the Nasdaq, as well as many more organisations listed on the LSE, Euronext, Euronext Paris, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai Financial Market and the Tokyo and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

“What both firms had in common, and what A&O Shearman will continue to provide, is a deep commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation,” managing partner Hervé Ekué said.

“I know of no other firm in the world that can combine our market coverage, depth of experience, and innovative approach. Our ability to bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and skills to clients puts A&O Shearman in a class of its own, and we will continue to prioritise and encourage these collaborative ways of working in the future.”