Karen Seward (below), the former global litigation head and U.S. co-chair of Allen & Overy, is to retire from the A&O Shearman partnership at the end of this year, according to people with knowledge of the firm. Seward, who was seen as a potential successor to Wim Dejonghe as head of A&O Shearman following the completion of the firm’s merger, will step down as a partner on December 31 this year. A&O Shearman said that she would continue to work with the firm as a consultant. Seward joined A&O in 2000, becoming the firm’s international head of litigation in 2018. In April 2023—one month before the firm announced its merger with Shearman & Sterling—Seward was appointed to the role of U.S. co-chair, alongside Kent Rowey, who is now the firm’s global co-head of energy. Seward ran to be A&O’s managing partner in 2020, with the firm ultimately electing former energy partner Gareth Price to the role. Full story from Jack Womack: https://lnkd.in/e7UJGP-P
