US firms Edwards Wildman Palmer and Locke Lord have voted in favour of a merger, creating a law firm with revenue of around $675m (£428.7m).

The combination, which will operate as Locke Lord Edwards, is set to go live on 10 January 2015. It will staff around 1,000 lawyers based in 23 offices. Management at both firms had previously signed a letter of intent to merge in September.