U.K. firm Herbert Smith has confirmed that it is in merger talks with Australian firm Freehills. A tie-up between the two firms would create an international giant with nearly 2,000 lawyers and give Freehills an opening into Asian markets.

The aftermath of a bloody civil war might not seem like the best time to start doing business again in Libya. But Italian lawyers were already returning to the North African nation even before former leader Muammar el-Qaddafi was captured. They intend to capitalize on the deep historic and economic ties between the two countries.Visit International News

A historical analysis conducted as part of this year’s Global 100 survey shows that, over the past dozen years, nearly all of the world’s 50 highest-grossing firms have grown rich and global. Is there a connection between the two?

Proskauer Rose and SJ Berwin said Friday they had decided against merging, putting to an end months of speculation about a possible trans-Atlantic tie-up between the two law firms. The firms in a joint statement said “we recognized that the timetable necessary to reach the agreements that would ensure the successful integration of our firms is not workable at this time.”

Proskauer Rose and SJ Berwin said today they’ve decided against merging, putting an end to months of speculation about a possible trans-Atlantic tie up between the two law firms.