A&O Shearman to Cut 10% of Partners
In a series of post-merger changes, international law firm A&O Shearman will reduce its global partnership by 10% and close its Johannesburg office by the end of 2024, according to a statement shared by Reuters.
With around 800 partners globally, the law firm announced that the reduction in its partnership will take place by the end of its fiscal year in April 2025. The firm explained that these changes are intended to reduce overlaps and allow for the promotion and hiring of partners in key growth areas.
In the statement, A&O Shearman’s managing partner Hervé Ekué said, “We never take decisions like this lightly, especially when they impact our people,” noting that while the changes are a “difficult but necessary step forward,” they are essential for the firm’s future.
The changes come on the heels of a significant merger between Allen & Overy, founded in London in 1930, and Shearman & Sterling, founded in New York in 1873. The merger, completed on May 1, 2024, created a mega firm now recognized as one of the “Big Law” firms, under the new name A&O Shearman.
Following the merger, the new firm boasts nearly 4,000 lawyers and an additional 3,000 employees across 47 offices worldwide, with combined revenues of approximately €3.128 billion.
