Skip to main content
A&O Sherman
A professional standing outdoors, looking ahead.

Human Resources

Overview

Our Human Resources team delivers strategic partnership and exceptional people services across our global network. Bringing together specialist teams spanning talent, learning, recruitment, reward, mobility, systems and employee relations, HR supports every stage of the employee lifecycle. We strengthen culture, foster inclusion, drive capability and ensure colleagues have the support, development and environment they need to thrive. Our HR function plays a vital role in enabling the firm’s people and business to excel.

Our global HR organization falls into three broad categories: business partnering, centers of expertise, and HR operations. Discover more about these categories below.

VIEW HR JOBS

A professional walking outside of the office, looking towards the sky.

Business Partnering

Our generalist HR teams serve as strategic advisors to the firm’s leaders, providing expert HR advice to our offices, regions, and global practice groups across the full range of HR services and day-to-day HR matters. Typically embedded within their client groups, HR business partners bring experience across all areas of HR and translate business challenges into people solutions that add value, enhance productivity, retain talent, and equip our people to perform at their best.

Our HR business partners work at an office, regional or global level, aligned by geography or practice group. They work alongside our specialist HR teams in our centers of expertise. Together, they're focused on optimizing outcomes for the firm.

A professional standing outdoors, looking ahead.

Centers of Expertise

Our global Centers of Expertise (COEs) span resourcing, global mobility, training and development, inclusion, reward and wellbeing, and HR systems. These teams shape strategies, policies, and ways of working, using a data-driven approach, that support the firm’s goals and priorities.

Working closely with leadership and colleagues across different markets, COEs translate global strategy into measurable actions and results. In doing so, they drive efficiency and consistency, while also embracing innovation, technology, and future-focused thinking to keep the firm competitive.

Our COE specialists are based around the world and collaborate with HR colleagues from different geographies, fee-earners, and business teams colleagues in functions including marketing and IT,  to deliver the best results for the firm. They build strong relationships and networks to develop and advise on strategies, influence outcomes, and share insight.

Employee Relations

Our Employee Relations team advises on complex and routine people matters, ensures consistent and compliant HR policy application, oversees employment‑law compliance and audits, and supports HR colleagues and leaders in resolving sensitive issues to enhance the overall employee experience.

Inclusion

Our Inclusion team drives a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered, leading initiatives that promote equity, awareness and diverse talent. They partner with leaders, networks and HR to embed inclusive practices and ensure a welcoming, supportive environment across the firm.

Reward

Our Reward and Benefits team provides expert guidance to HR and business leaders on all aspects of reward, developing and reviewing policies to ensure our compensation and benefits remain competitive, attractive and aligned with the firm’s evolving needs.

Benefits

Our Benefits and Wellbeing team are subject‑matter experts who lead the firm’s strategy on employee benefits, pensions and wellbeing (physical, mental and financial) ensuring our programs are well‑designed, competitive and aligned with business needs while providing clear guidance to HR teams and employees.

Talent and Development

Our Talent and Development team delivers global learning for all staff, designing and managing business skills and personal development programs for partners, associates and support staff, and working closely with the training events team to ensure every program runs smoothly and effectively.

Global Mobility

Our Global Mobility teams, based in London, Belfast and Hong Kong, manage international assignments with consistent policy application, compliance and risk control, delivering innovative, consultative mobility solutions that adapt to fast‑changing global and local needs.

Partner Matters Unit (PMU)

Our Partner Matters Unit (PMU) provides specialist HR and legal support to the global partnership, streamlining partners’ HR experience and ensuring consistent application of the firm’s constitutional and governance frameworks.

Talent Acquisition

Our Talent Acquisition team attracts and secures exceptional talent across the firm, partnering with leaders to understand hiring needs, manage end‑to‑end recruitment processes, shape our employer brand, and deliver a seamless, high‑quality candidate experience that strengthens our global talent pipeline.

Professionals collaborating during a work discussion.

HR Operations

Our global HR Operations teams focus on ensuring efficiency and operational excellence in the way that HR services are delivered to the firm. Centred in our Belfast and Perth shared service centres, they work globally across all areas of operations. The teams are responsible for administration of the employee lifecycle, regulatory compliance, and daily administration tailored for fee-earners and business teams. They work closely with local markets to co-create streamlined and optimal processes, track performance metrics, analyse insights and recommend ongoing improvements tailored to local needs. The team has a strong client-serving ethos and builds relationships based on trust and proven results.

HR Services

Our HR Services team powers the business through strategic partnership and exceptional operational support, leveraging expertise across learning and development, resourcing, reward, employee relations, payroll, HR systems and administration to create a high‑performing, people‑focused workplace ready to achieve the firm’s ambitions.

HR Systems

Our HR Systems team drives and optimizes the firm’s core HR technologies, including PeopleSoft HCM, IBM Kenexa ATS and Cognos Reporting, to deliver reliable, insightful and efficient systems that empower our people and support seamless HR operations.

HR Advice

Our HR Advice team delivers timely, accurate generalist support across performance management, secondments, terms and conditions, leave, absence and exit processes, providing consistent HR expertise to colleagues across the UK, the UAE and Spain.

RecruitmentAdministration

Our Recruitment Administration team delivers efficient, high‑quality support to ensure the firm recruits the strongest talent, managing end‑to‑end processes across the global HR function and ensuring a seamless experience for candidates, hiring managers and HR partners.

Training Events

Our Training Events team delivers the seamless logistics behind 200+ global training programs, ensuring every talent and development initiative is relevant and runs smoothly for fee‑earners and support staff at all levels across our international offices.

Early Careers Administration

Our Early Careers Administration team supports apprentices, interns, trainees and graduates by coordinating recruitment, assessments, onboarding, training and events, ensuring every early talent program is delivered smoothly, consistently and with an exceptional candidate experience across the organization.

Payroll

Our Payroll team manages accurate monthly payroll for all colleagues, posts all payroll‑related costs, and oversees IR35 ‘inside’ contractor remittances, ensuring compliant, timely and reliable payments across the firm.

Our latest jobs in Human Resources

Related content

  • A professional walking outside of the office, looking towards the sky.

    Experienced careers

    Explore senior and experienced roles worldwide - join teams solving complex legal challenges and shaping global business outcomes.

    Read More
  • A professional smiling while seated in an office environment.

    Working at A&O Shearman

    Discover who we are, what we stand for, and how we're shaping the future through innovation and leading-edge work.

    Read More
  • A professional standing in an office space, holding a cup and looking out of a window.

    Culture and benefits

    Learn about our high-performance culture, our ways of working that sustain it, and our core values of belonging and excelling.

    Read More