Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel’s proposed merger with international firm Herbert Smith Freehills is the latest in a series of moves that finds legacy New York firms seeking to keep pace with the growing competition in the market.

Before the Kramer Levin announcement, Shearman & Sterling solidified its merger with Allen & Overy in May, while dozens of partners of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, before its dissolution, left for Hogan Lovells at the end of last year.