Adam S Hakki

Practice Areas

Adam Hakki is Shearman & Sterling's Senior Partner. As Senior Partner, Adam is the leader of Shearman & Sterling and Chair of its Policy Committee and Executive Group. Adam maintains an active litigation and investigations practice focused on “bet the company” matters. Adam was recently named “Litigator of the Year” by The American Lawyer and is the only lawyer recognized by Chambers USA for Securities Litigation, Antitrust and Financial Services Enforcement and Investigations. Adam is one of only four lawyers in New York recognized by Chambers USA as a “Star Performer” for Securities Litigation, its highest designation, has been named to The Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for Securities Litigation and was recently recognized by Lawdragon as one of the nation's top litigators. Adam also has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as its sole “Securities Lawyer of the Year” four times in the last six years and has been named a Law360 Banking “MVP” in each of the last four years. Adam has decades of experience representing corporations, directors, executives, special committees, financial institutions and asset managers in their highest stakes matters in the courtroom, in internal investigations, and before government enforcers, especially the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, state attorneys general, bank regulators and FINRA. Adam has a particularly deep focus on cases and investigations involving securities, corporate governance, M&A, antitrust and competition, derivatives and commodities, insider trading, SPACs, financial disclosure and accounting, trading and investment banking regulation, general commercial matters and insolvency.

The leading publications and directories, such as Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation describe Adam as “the complete package,” a “universally revered securities litigator,” “simply brilliant,” “a master at thinking through issues that others don’t,” having “a breadth of knowledge and ability to predict outcomes and manage expectations [that] are second to none,” “one of the top securities litigators in the country,” “the most impressive securities litigator I have ever used anywhere,” “phenomenal on securities litigation,” “a top-notch securities litigator,” having “a unique ability to be practical while not missing a single detail of the law,” “among the most polished and professional litigators in America,” “a force to be reckoned with,” “amazingly bright, with excellent strategic judgment,” “works well with codefendants and is well respected by other outside counsel,” having “the rare balance of being incredibly smart and effectively confident,” “a great lawyer with a practical bent that is somewhat rare,” “on top of all of the cutting edge issues,” “incredibly responsive,” “just dynamite,” “tremendous breadth, and does really well in court,” “exceptionally hard-working and shows up everywhere,” “takes on everything that comes at him,” “incredibly knowledgeable,” “an extremely smart lawyer who is very well versed in the financial industry,” “very strong with senior management,” “super smart and provides a great client experience,” “quick, well prepared and responsive,” a “superb writer,” “gets to the core really quickly, and can act really quickly,” “always the most calm and composed person in the room,” “extremely responsive and practical,” “great at making oral presentations,” able to “persuade on his feet,” “having a vast and loyal cadre of investment banks, hedge funds and mutual funds” as clients, “an absolute pleasure to work with,” and a litigator to whom “big banks turn frequently for important matters.”

Career

St. John's University School of Law: J.D., magna cum laude

Muhlenberg College: B.A.

Admissions: New York

Personal

https://www.shearman.com/en/people/h/hakki-adam