Linklaters Appoints Maria Zaino as Chief Operating Officer of the Americas Amid Significant U.S. Expansion

Linklaters is pleased to announce that Maria Zaino has joined the firm’s New York office as Chief Operating Officer of the Americas as the firm continues its rapid U.S. expansion.

Over the past two years, Linklaters has added 16 preeminent partners across M&A, finance, and disputes in New York and Washington; acted on many of the market’s most complex mandates for clients such as Rio Tinto, Dow, Volkswagen, Johnson & Johnson, and Allstate; and advanced strategic leadership transitions that reinforce the firm’s ambitions in the U.S.

As COO of the Americas, Maria will work closely with Chairman of the Americas George Casey and Managing Partner of the Americas Tom McGrath to accelerate the firm’s U.S. strategy, strengthen client service delivery, and support the continued growth of its core practices.

Maria brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience at leading U.S. law firms, primarily at Shearman & Sterling in a range of executive roles. Notably, Maria served as Shearman’s global business director for corporate and M&A, working closely with George Casey during his tenure as the firm’s global managing partner and global head of corporate and M&A. Most recently, at A&O Shearman, Maria served as executive advisor to the firm’s U.S. management and COO for three global practice groups.

George stated:

“Maria’s arrival marks another significant milestone in the continued transformation of our U.S. business. Her deep operational expertise and decades of Wall Street firm experience will be invaluable as we continue to build a market leading U.S. practice, fully integrated within our elite global platform. She has the ability to drive complex change at scale to support our continued momentum in the U.S.”

Maria commented:

“I am thrilled to join Linklaters at such an exciting moment in the firm’s U.S. trajectory. The combination of a truly world class global platform with a premier, rapidly growing U.S. practice creates a unique opportunity. I look forward to working with George, Tom, and our colleagues across the Americas and the global platform to support the next phase of the firm’s strategy in the U.S.”

Maria succeeds Michael Brock, who is retiring after 31 years with the firm. Mike will remain with the firm through June to support the handover and continued execution of the firm’s strategy in the region.