Khalid Garousha and Hervé Ekué are the new senior partner and managing partner of A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman has appointed Khalid Garousha, as senior partner, and Hervé Ekué, as managing partner, who will take over from May 1, the date on which the merger becomes effective. These are the first positions made public by both firms, which anticipate that in the coming weeks they will be communicating the rest of their management structure.

Adam Hakki, Shearman’s current senior partner, has been appointed co-chair of A&O Shearman’s board and global executive committee, and will also lead the firm’s business in United States as its chairman. Doreen Lilienfeld will serve as co-manage partner in the business in the U.S. jurisdiction. Both Adam and Doreen will continue to actively represent clients in addition to their leadership roles.

Khalid Garousha said he is "honored" that the firm has entrusted him to lead A&O Shearman. He expressed his confidence that, in close collaboration with Hervé Ekué, Adam Hakki, Doreen Lilienfeld and the rest of the management team, "we will ensure that our experience and in-depth legal knowledge will enable us to deliver the best results for our clients in their increasingly complex global challenges".

The managing partner of the future firm, Hervé Ekué, added that he is "looking forward" to starting his new role at the helm of A&O Shearman so that, together with his fellow directors, he can create an environment that "embraces and values our professionals, and allows them to grow, thrive and flourish," both as individuals and as members of the organization.

Wim Dejonghe, current senior partner at Allen & Overy, said that "A&O Shearman will bring together some of the world’s top legal talents in the legal industry, while remaining focused on our clients, our people and society in general”.