Alumni Q&A With Emily Sheahan

Catch us up! What professional and personal milestones have you achieved since your time at Loeb?

After leaving Loeb in May 2021, I joined Akin Gump as a counsel in their corporate group. At Akin, my work focused on representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in M&A transactions, joint ventures and co-investments. Similar to my time at Loeb, I was very engaged in the firm outside of my billable work, as a member of the Associates Committee and a lateral associate integration mentor. A highlight of my time at Akin—and of my career—was representing an Afghan journalist in her asylum case. She had been evacuated from Kabul during the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021. After a long application and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interview process in 2022 and years of waiting, she was finally granted asylum just a few months ago. 

Post-Akin, I moved in-house to American Express and am currently a director and counsel on the Corporate Development, Strategy and Competition legal team, focusing on M&A and venture capital transactions, joint ventures, and other strategic projects that drive growth for the company. A highlight of my time at Amex thus far has been working on our acquisition of Tock, a reservation, table and event management technology provider. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to continue to grow my career at an innovative company alongside smart, supportive colleagues. 

Are there any skills or lessons you acquired at Loeb that you’ve taken on your career journey?

So many! I vividly remember walking back into my office after running my first issues list call on a purchase agreement as a midlevel associate and thinking to myself, “I think I just became a real M&A lawyer.” Because our Corporate teams were leanly staffed, I typically worked on deals directly with partners, which gave me opportunities—such as running client calls on substantive deal documents—that I may not have had elsewhere at that level. The Corporate partners at Loeb taught me how to be an agile and business-minded lawyer and how to work hard while still making the days fun. No matter how busy, everyone had time to sit down and run through questions on an agreement, to brainstorm about strategy or to ask about what was going on in my personal life. I was always included in client meetings and pitches, which honed my communication skills and built my confidence, and I credit much of my professional success to the five years I spent at Loeb. 

What does being a part of Loeb Reconnected mean to you?

Those who know me well know how deeply I value my relationships, both personal and professional. The people at Loeb are some of the best, and maintaining a connection to them via Loeb Reconnected helps me feel like I’m still woven into the fabric of the firm. In the last few years, I’ve attended a handful of great alumni events, and it always fills my cup to connect with former colleagues and friends. Outside of formal events, I’ve maintained personal relationships with many Loeb lawyers and alums, and I cherish these friendships and consider them an invaluable part of my life. 

Can you share a specific Loeb memory that you are fond of? 

There are too many to list, but I’ll always remember the buzzing energy and laughter on the Corporate side of the 19th floor. Even during high-stress deal closings, amidst the intensity and long hours, we always found a way to keep the energy light and have fun along the way. One of the best parts of corporate/M&A is working with lawyers across all departments, and it was always rewarding to learn from lawyers in different groups with skills and experience that were different from my own. A standout is the great work I did alongside the Entertainment team on many occasions. 

Being a member of the Women’s LEAD Network at Loeb is also such a fond memory—our client events at the Bouley Test Kitchen were unmatched! I left every meeting and event feeling energized about the fact that I had strong female mentors to inspire me, which was so critical to my development. 

What did you like most about working at Loeb? What about Loeb’s environment made your experience unique?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the people! Loeb does a fantastic job of fostering a genuinely supportive community where I always felt that I could be myself, and the firm valued that and prioritized giving me opportunities that allowed me to shine. I am both the person and lawyer I am today because of the great people at Loeb (both lawyers and nonlawyers alike!).

For me, working at Loeb was the perfect combination of doing challenging, creative legal work alongside talented and genuine people. I learned how to navigate complex problems while working seamlessly with colleagues who were always eager to share knowledge and lend a hand. There was a constant sense of trust and mutual respect, which not only made it easy to ask questions and grow, but also made even the toughest challenges feel manageable. The firm’s emphasis on mentorship, paired with its open-door policy, created an environment where I felt supported every step of the way. That unique balance of professional rigor and genuine camaraderie is what made my experience at Loeb so memorable.