99% of the votes cast by the two firms were in favour of the merger, said a press release published on 13 October. It creates A&O Shearman, “the only firm fluent in US law, English law and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets,” noted the communiqué. Together, the two firms have 3,950 lawyers and 800 partners in 48 offices around the world--including Luxembourg--and a combined turnover of around $3.5bn.

As they work together towards the final closing of the transaction, the firms will now enter the planning phase of the integration, which is expected by May 2024 at the latest.

“This is a historic moment for both firms and our profession,” commented Wim Dejonghe, senior partner at Allen & Overy. “We are delighted that our partners have voted so resoundingly in favor of this merger, which is a transformational step for the legal industry. We have long admired Shearman & Sterling for its outstanding reputation, talent, and client base, and we are confident that together we will create a truly exceptional global firm that will serve our clients’ needs in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.”

At the time the merger was announced, Allen & Overy’s Luxembourg office had 231 staff, including 145 lawyers.

This article was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.