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.

While alleging that his wife’s affair with soon-to-be-former Edwards Wildman Palmer managing partner Walter Reed cost him and a colleague their jobs, Lawrence Cohen’s suit also claims Reed put the affair ahead of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge’s interests amid merger talks last year with Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon.

Ruden McClosky is deep in merger talks with 96-attorney Greenspoon Marder. Once boasting more than 200 attorneys throughout Florida, Ruden McClosky has gone through a series of layoffs, mass defections, office closings and pay cuts over three years, and is now down to about 70 lawyers.

Ice Miller and Schottenstein Zox & Dunn announced Friday that they will merge under the Ice Miller name as of Jan. 1. This is the second merger-related development in the Indiana market this month, following the confirmation by Indianapolis’ Baker & Daniels of merger talks with Faegre & Benson.

Beachcroft is in merger talks with Davies Arnold Cooper in a deal that would create an insurance law firm with combined revenues of about 175 million pounds. The move follows news of merger talks between fellow insurance specialists Clydes and Barlows.Visit International News