The union of these US and UK law firms builds what the organizations said will be an "integrated global elite firm."

Allen & Overy, Shearman & Sterling
UK-based Allen & Overy and US-headquartered Shearman & Sterling are merging to build a law firm powerhouse under the new moniker of Allen Overy Shearman Sterling – A&O Shearman for short. 

The combined firm will have about 3,900 lawyers and around 800 partners across 49 offices, they said in a statement yesterday. 

Under the merger, Allen & Overy will draw in the US firm’s expertise in areas including private client work, family offices, data protection and privacy, and tax. Allen & Overy's expertise is in areas such as corporate M&A, litigation, capital markets, public law and intellectual property. 

“Shearman & Sterling will gain access to a dramatically expanded 'rest of the world' offering across practice areas, and Allen & Overy will benefit from increased board-level recognition and expanded access to a corporate client base in the US,” the firms said. “The combined firm will be perfectly positioned to capitalize on global macro trends including energy transition, technology, and private capital.”

The proposed merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including a vote of the partners of each of the respective firms.

Allen & Overy, an international firm, has about 5,800 people, including some 590 partners, working in more than 40 offices worldwide. In the case of Shearman & Sterling, it is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; other entities operate in the UK, Hong Kong, Italy and Saudi Arabia.