Weil Gotshal & Manges looks set to secure its long-awaited French law launch next month as the New York firm reaches the final stages of talks with Paris boutique Serra Leavy & Cazals.

Weil Gotshal has been looking for a French suitor for over a year and has sounded out many of France’s independent firms. However, in August, Legal Week’s sister title Legal Week Global revealed that the long process had seen Serra Leavy emerge as the favoured choice.