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A&O Shearman
A global Magic Circle firm offering London trainees experience across major finance, corporate, disputes and infrastructure matters.
About A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman was formed on 1 May 2024 through the combination of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. The firm brings together established English and US law practices, advising corporations, financial institutions, investment funds and governments on international transactions and disputes.
Its London practice has particular strengths in finance, corporate transactions, capital markets and litigation. Matters frequently involve several jurisdictions, requiring teams to coordinate different legal systems, regulatory requirements and commercial priorities.
For trainees, the breadth of the practice offers opportunities to explore how businesses raise capital, acquire assets, manage risk and resolve disputes. The combination also makes the relationship between English and US law relevant to understanding the firm’s international offering. Its Belfast operation supports legal delivery, project management and business services, including through legal technology.
The two-year London training contract comprises four six-month seats. Trainees express preferences, with allocations subject to business needs. A partner or associate supervises each rotation, supported by mentors and the Early Careers team.
Development combines practical responsibility with departmental training and wider professional skills sessions. Trainees can explore international or client secondments. Contentious experience is obtained through a disputes seat or an alternative combination of litigation training and legal advice clinics.
Future trainees study through BPP. Non-law graduates complete the PGDL before SQE preparation, while the SQE programme includes an Essentials for Practice component. Maintenance grants are £13,500 for the PGDL and £20,000 for SQE study.
Vacation scheme participants receive £500 per week and are considered for training contracts. The winter scheme is aimed at final-year undergraduates, while the summer scheme is for penultimate-year students, in either case across degree disciplines.
Practice areas & rankings
A&O Shearman has 57 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Its London Band 1 rankings include Corporate Finance: Borrowers: Big Ticket, Corporate Finance: Lenders: Big Ticket, Leveraged Finance: Lenders: Big Ticket, Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above, and Employment: Employer.
These rankings reflect both the firm’s transactional strengths and the specialist advice supporting clients’ business operations.
A&O Shearman was named ‘Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe’ at the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024, in recognition of its pioneering work in generative AI, including the firm-wide rollout of Harvey and the development of ContractMatrix in collaboration with Microsoft. The firm was also recognised as ‘Overall Firm of the Year’ at the Lexology Index Awards 2024, and received a ‘Highly Commended’ mention for its marketing initiatives at the Legal Business Awards 2024 — reflecting its commitment to excellence across both innovation and client engagement.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
A&O Shearman is ranked Band 1 for both Corporate Finance: Borrowers: Big Ticket and Corporate Finance: Lenders: Big Ticket in London in Chambers UK 2027. These rankings cover major corporate lending from both sides of the financing relationship. The practice provides useful context for understanding how companies obtain funding and how lenders protect their position through negotiated terms, security and contractual controls.
The firm is ranked Band 1 for Leveraged Finance: Lenders: Big Ticket in London in Chambers UK 2027. Its practice works with lenders, asset managers and portfolio companies on substantial financing transactions. The work connects financing structures with acquisitions, investment strategies and the commercial performance of the underlying business. It requires an understanding of the risks assumed by different parties and how those risks are reflected in transaction documents.
A&O Shearman is ranked Band 1 for Corporate/M&A: £800 million and above in London in Chambers UK 2027. The team advises on major international transactions across sectors including technology, energy, consumer goods, financial services and healthcare. Its corporate practice draws on financing and capital markets expertise to support complex deals. A recent work highlight is advising Athora on its £5.7 billion acquisition of Pension Insurance Corporation Group.
The firm is ranked Band 1 for Employment: Employer in London in Chambers UK 2027. Its practice advises major employers on workplace investigations, whistleblowing, executive departures, restrictive covenants and international compliance. Financial services and media are notable client sectors. The work combines sensitive disputes with strategic advice, requiring lawyers to consider legal exposure alongside operational needs, employee relationships and reputational consequences.
Awards
Most Innovative Law Firm in EuropeFT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024
Recognised for its generative AI work, including the firm-wide rollout of Harvey and the development of ContractMatrix with Microsoft.
Overall Firm of the YearLexology Index Awards 2024
Won alongside a Highly Commended mention for its marketing initiatives at the Legal Business Awards 2024.
Firm History
1930 → George Allen & Thomas Overy start their firm. Left their old firm as top billers but weren’t rewarded.
1936 → Firm gains recognition advising King Edward VIII during the abdication crisis.
1963 → Diversifies as both a commercial and financial firm, advising on the first Eurobond.
2000 → Allen & Overy merges with Loeff Claeys Verbeke.
2004 → Converts to a limited liability partnership.
2008 → A&O breaks the £1 billion turnover mark.
2010 → First major firm to let equity partners work part-time.
2010 → Expands to Australia, opening new offices in Perth and Sydney.
2011 → First global law firm to open an office in Casablanca, Morocco.
2014 → Opens Johannesburg office, the first Magic Circle firm in sub-Saharan Africa.
2018 → Planned merger with O’Melveny & Myers falls through.
2019 → Surpasses $1 trillion in terms of deal value.
2021 → Wins International Law Firm of the Year.
2022 → First in the world to use generative AI at enterprise level with Harvey.
2024 → Surpasses £1 billion in profit.
2024 → Merges with Shearman & Sterling to form A&O Shearman, one of the world’s largest law firms.
(please note these are highlights and the firm's history is far more complex)
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Candidates submit an online application detailing their education and work history. The official summer vacation scheme application window runs from 14 September to 9 November 2026, closing at 5pm. The scheme takes place from 5 to 16 July 2027.
The published direct training contract window closed on 5 October 2026 and covered a March 2028 start. Winter scheme applications have also closed.
Present your experience accurately and make your contribution clear. When preparing your motivation answers, connect your interest in the firm to particular work, such as international financing or corporate transactions. Explain why that work interests you and support your suitability with evidence of collaboration, analytical thinking and initiative.
A&O Shearman: quick answers
How much does A&O Shearman pay trainees?
A&O Shearman pays first-year trainees £56,000, rising to £61,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at A&O Shearman earn £150,000.
When is the A&O Shearman vacation scheme deadline?
A&O Shearman's vacation scheme applications close on 9 Nov for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does A&O Shearman take on?
A&O Shearman takes on around 70 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does A&O Shearman use in its applications?
The online assessment includes situational judgement questions, verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning. It is untimed and should take approximately 45 minutes, including the recorded motivation answers. Practise drawing conclusions from written information and interpreting numerical material accurately. For situational judgement questions, consider the client’s interests, professional responsibilities and the need to communicate or seek guidance. Both the application and online assessment must be completed before the deadline.
What grades do you need to apply to A&O Shearman?
To apply to A&O Shearman you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, A&O Shearman asks for AAB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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