Morgan Lewis forms EMEA council to boost global strategy

Led by partner Ayman Khaleq, the 12-member Council brings together lawyers from key practices and markets across the firm’s international network. Working closely with Firm Chair David McManus and a 23-member EMEA Steering Committee, the Council will help coordinate regional priorities, share market intelligence, strengthen connections among offices and practices, and support clients navigating an increasingly complex business, regulatory, and geopolitical landscape. The Council’s composition reflects the interconnected nature of clients’ businesses and the firm’s commitment to drawing on perspectives from key commercial centers and practice areas throughout its global platform.

"Our clients’ businesses are increasingly shaped by cross-border investment, evolving regulation, complex commercial disputes, and interconnected markets," said Firm Chair David McManus. "The formation of the EMEA Leadership Council reflects both the growing demand for coordinated legal services and our continued investment in the region. By connecting leaders from key practices and markets, we are strengthening our ability to identify opportunities, align priorities, and deliver the full breadth of our international capabilities."

Ayman Khaleq, leader of the EMEA Leadership Council and co-leader of the firm’s Middle East practice, stated, “EMEA is not a single market, and our clients do not approach it as one. They are connecting capital, operations, talent, technology, and regulation across jurisdictions and regions. The Council is designed around those realities. It will help us proactively identify trends and anticipate issues, share what we are seeing, and mobilize the right teams around each client’s objectives.”

This initiative follows the firm's announcement on May 12, 2026, regarding the upcoming arrival of Phil Cheveley to lead its European mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practice. Christina Melendi emphasized London’s strategic role as a central hub connecting the firm’s cross-border M&A and private equity work across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, highlighting the importance of integration across offices and client bases.