Practice Areas
Discover the sectors you could be a part of
Banking
Our Banking practice is one of the largest in the industry and has played a leading role in almost every major development in the modern financial markets. Few firms can match our leading position across the full range of finance specialisms. Join us and you’ll work at the heart of the world’s financial markets, tackling challenging but rewarding assignments.
Insight: British American Tobacco
We assisted the lead banks on a USD 25 billion acquisition loan facility for British American Tobacco, to back the USD 49.4 billion acquisition of the 57.8% stake in U.S. peer Reynolds American Inc. which it did not already own. This was the largest deal in the European syndicated loan markets in 2017.
Learn MoreWorking as a finance lawyer at the market-leading finance firm gives you exposure to a quality of work that is unrivalled among our competitors.
Corporate
As part of our global Corporate and M&A practice, you’ll advise some of the world’s most successful companies, commercial and investment banks and private equity firms, on all aspects of commercial law and corporate finance. You can tackle everything from public takeovers and private M&A to joint ventures and corporate restructurings – as well as day-to-day regulatory matters. Complex, high-profile, interesting; only the best at A&O Shearman.
Insight: Liberty Global
We assisted Liberty Global on its GBP 31.4 billion joint venture with Telefónica to merge Virgin Media and O2’s fixed, broadband and mobile businesses in the UK.
Learn MoreHaving the opportunity to advise on complex, high-profile transactions like the Virgin Media/O2 merger is one of the main reasons I became a corporate lawyer and why I chose to join A&O Shearman. The collaboration between various teams within A&O Shearman, the client and the other side was really impressive to observe and a privilege to be a part of.
International Capital Markets
Our International Capital Markets Team is at the heart of the world’s banking and financial markets. We’re a leader across the full range of capital markets product lines and we’ve played a key role in almost every major development in our field. We are increasingly working with colleagues from other practice areas to develop innovative solutions to big-picture problems. And you can be a part of these long-term goals.
Insight: MarginMatrixTM
We developed a market-leading IT solution to help our clients comply with the mandatory variation margin rules that now apply to the USD 500 trillion OTC derivatives market. MarginMatrixTM provides process efficiencies and economies of scale that no individual client could match on its own.
Learn MoreEveryone at A&O Shearman takes real pride in doing their job well. It creates an inspiring atmosphere.
Employment & Benefits
Our global practice is one of the best-resourced practices in its field. As a top Employment & benefits team, with a client-centric approach, we cover not only standalone advisory, litigation and corporate transactional support, but we also provide clients with a more bespoke approach that includes delivering training, regular legal bulletins and a broad range of value-added services.
Insight: Covid-19 and the workplace of the future
At the outbreak of Covid-19, leading corporates and financial institutions turned to us to advise on the unprecedented employment aspects of the pandemic’s impact. As countries went into lockdown, we advised them on how to manage their workforces and establish what their ‘new normal’ was. Now out of the pandemic, we are continuing to advise on mandatory vaccinations/testing, as well as how businesses can move effectively to large-scale, hybrid working models.
Learn MorePeople issues are at the top of board agendas and our clients come to us for strategic insight and guidance on the most sensitive and complex HR matters.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
As one of the world's leading disputes practices, A&O Shearman has vast experience litigating, arbitrating and resolving corporate and commercial disputes across multiple jurisdictions. We handle high-stakes, complex cases for some of the world’s most recognisable companies, giving you the perfect platform to learn and develop at the highest levels.
Insight: South Stream Transport
We worked with South Stream Transport, part of Gazprom, in an ICC arbitration with Saipem relating to a gas pipeline from Russia under the Black Sea into Europe. The case was one of the largest construction arbitrations of recent years.
Learn MoreI really enjoy the fight of litigation: strategy, tactics, intensity and especially the highs/lows of winning and losing. There's no feeling quite like it.
Real Estate
Our Real Estate team uses deep legal expertise and broad market knowledge to provide clients with a competitive edge. As your career develops with us, you’ll help to deliver a full spectrum of services to developers. Join us and you’ll be part of a practice with international reach across our network and an unmatched reputation for exceptional work.
Insight: 280 Bishopsgate refurbishment
Advising a global real estate fund in a joint venture with an investment manager for the acquisition, redevelopment and pre-leasing of 280 Bishopsgate in the City of London: a 250,000 sq ft office building.
Learn MoreWhether you are negotiating a lease, carrying out due diligence on a large property portfolio that is being refinanced, or helping co-ordinate a cross-border property acquisition, no two days in real estate are ever the same. The learning curve is a steep but fulfilling one.
Tax
Our Tax team works alongside colleagues in all jurisdictions to provide cutting-edge advice and strategies, implemented by some of the world’s largest companies and institutions. The work we do is some of the most technical and challenging in our industry; join the team to expand your legal knowledge and experience connections with international clients and colleagues you couldn’t get anywhere else.
Insight: A truly varied practice
Whatever you’re interested in, the tax team covers it all. We have a huge variety of work, from helping to structure corporate acquisitions for household name clients to advising on real estate investments in iconic London landmarks. We also work on innovative capital markets transactions and litigate against the tax authorities. Tax law is constantly changing so life on this team is never dull.
Learn MoreOne of the most rewarding things about working in the Tax team is the amount of collaboration involved – both within the team and with our colleagues in other departments or jurisdictions. Everyone has an important role to play and these relationships help us deliver the high-quality work our clients demand.
