Wim Dejonghe has been part of Allen & Overy’s senior leadership team between 2008 and 2024, first as Global Managing Partner, and since 2016, as the firm’s Senior Partner. During that time, he has led the firm through a period of significant change in the legal industry and the global business landscape, culminating in leading the merger talks in 2023-24 with Shearman & Sterling to create a partnership that combines two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, with complementary strengths and cultures. Driving innovation and change and embedding a growth mindset are the hallmarks of his approach.

As Managing Partner, he played a central role in restructuring the partnership and shaping the business in the wake of the financial crisis, putting the firm on a path of consistent growth and freeing up investment to expand A&O’s network of international offices at a time when many law firms were either retrenching or stagnating. These moves cemented A&O’s position as a global elite law firm.

Wim played a pivotal role in establishing the support and legal services centre in Belfast , offering clients new ways to control their legal costs. It was the first of a series of innovations he spearheaded which have contributed to A&O being named “Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe” a record six times in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyer awards. These include the creation of Peerpoint, the consultant lawyer platform, the Project Management Office, A&O Consulting and Fuse, A&O’s thriving tech innovation space. He has also played a lead role in driving A&O’s diversity and inclusion agenda and, externally, has become a frequent public speaker offering deep insights into trends in the legal sector and business and economic affairs.

As a trusted adviser for many large organisations, clients are at the heart of his thinking. Wim has developed a strong connection with senior executives trying to make sense of real commercial issues.

Wim joined A&O as a partner in 2001, having previously been a partner at Loeff Claeys Verbeke since 1993. He was Managing Partner of the Belgian offices from 1996 until his election as A&O’s Global Managing Partner. He served as an elected board member of A&O for 20 years and also co-headed the firm’s Global Corporate practice.

A multilinguist, Wim has also practised in Washington DC, New York and Barcelona. He co-wrote the book “M&A in Belgium”, the only in-depth and comprehensive legal guide to the Belgian transactions market.