Karen Seward
Partner
San Francisco
Silicon Valley
Karen Seward
Partner
San Francisco
Silicon Valley
Contact Details
Karen is A&O’s Global Head of Litigation and an Employment law specialist. Whether it is a strategic employment issue, a highly sensitive crisis or risk management problem, or complicated litigation, Karen is the person to know. Karen is routinely called by clients when faced with all manner of crises, including delicate boardroom issues, sensitive management challenges, senior executive exits, whistleblowing allegations and, especially over the last 12 months, issues connected to #MeToo. She is highly regarded by her peers and clients, which span financial institutions, global corporates, blue chip multinationals and law firms.
Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Office
San Francisco
Allen & Overy LLP
595 Market Street, Suite 950
San Francisco
CA 94105
Silicon Valley
Allen & Overy LLP
550 High Street, Second Floor
Palo Alto
CA 94301
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1990
Registered Foreign Legal Consultant in California
Academic
LLB, Law, 1987
Law Society Finals, 1988
Related articles
Publications: 25 May 2022
Seventy years of workplace progress with anti-discrimination measures
At the start of the Queen’s reign in 1953, workplace discrimination was commonplace and lawful. Today, the personal characteristics of workers such as sexual orientation, religion, gender and…
Publications: 30 March 2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine - Implications for commercial parties
News: 29 March 2022
A&O strengthens International Arbitration group with hire of David Herlihy
Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Office
San Francisco
Allen & Overy LLP
595 Market Street, Suite 950
San Francisco
CA 94105
Silicon Valley
Allen & Overy LLP
550 High Street, Second Floor
Palo Alto
CA 94301
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1990
Registered Foreign Legal Consultant in California
Academic
LLB, Law, 1987
Law Society Finals, 1988
Recognition
Karen Seward has ‘a good idea of competing risks and factors when determining strategy, she has worked on a huge number of cases and therefore has a lot of experience’.
Chambers UK 2019 (Employment)
Karen Seward is ‘an impressive individual’ who ‘is the grand master of cutting directly to the heart of an issue.’ Commentators hold her in high regard, with one noting: ‘She is extremely effective. When you're on the other side of her arguments, you can really feel the force of them.’.
Chambers UK 2018 (Employment)
Awards & accolades
Outstanding Practitioner of the Year
Euromoney Women in Business Law awards, June 2018
Leading Individual
Legal 500 UK for Employment: Employees/Unions and Employment. (Employers and Senior Executives)
