Akin Adds Chief Business Development Officer Anne Callender Amid Growth Surge

(New York) – Akin today announced that Anne Callender has joined the firm as Chief Business Development Officer, a senior leadership role focused on advancing its global growth strategy. She previously served in the same role at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
Callender brings more than 15 years of global legal business development and marketing experience and joins as the firm continues to expand. Since the start of 2026, Akin has added 20 lateral partners, with recent growth concentrated in private equity and financial restructuring. She will help scale the firm’s ability to convert client intelligence, data and technology into business opportunities.
“Our focus is on investing in both top-tier legal talent and business services to drive meaningful growth,” said Abid Qureshi, co-chair of Akin. “Anne is a proven business builder, with the experience and market insight to accelerate how we identify opportunities and deliver for clients.”
“Anne’s arrival strengthens our momentum and our focus on building a more proactive, data-driven business development platform,” said Shade Vaughn, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer. “She has a track record of turning insight into growth and a clear understanding that client relationships are central to everything we do.”
“This is a defining moment for our industry. We have the tools, talent and data to expand what we deliver for clients,” said Callender. “Joining Akin is an opportunity to help shape a business development platform that meets client needs today while anticipating what comes next.”
Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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