Karen is an employment law litigator.
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, and whistleblowing allegations. She is highly regarded by her peers and clients, which span financial institutions, global corporates, blue chip multinationals and law firms.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Vice Chair and Senior Non-Executive Director, The Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres, 2019 - to date
  • Statutory Member E-Act, 2022 - to date (Multi Academy Educational Trust of the Year 2023)
  • Member of the Employment Lawyers Association

Recognition

Karen is identified as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 UK for Employment: Employees / Unions and Employment (Employers and Senior Executives).
Legal 500 UK for Employment: Employees/Unions and Employment. (Employers and Senior Executives).
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)

Awards

  • Outstanding Practitioner of the Year. The Euromoney Women in Business Law awards in June 2018

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1990

Registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant in California, 2021

Registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant in New York, 2023

Academic

Law Degree, LLM, University of Bristol, 1987

Law Society Finals, Guildford University, 1988

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.