Shearman & Sterling’s European and Middle East regional managing partner is leaving the firm ahead of its imminent tie-up with Allen & Overy.

Ward McKimm. a high profile high-yield partner, joined Shearman in 2018 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. A joint statement issued by McKimm and Shearman said McKimm had decided to retire after a nearly 30-year career as a leading high-yield and leveraged finance lawyer based in London.