Senior Ashurst Morris Crisp partners are this week being asked whether the City firm should pursue full-scale merger talks with New York suitor Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson.

As Legal Week went to press, a number of practice heads and senior lawyers were expected to give an initial report on the feasibility of a Fried Frank merger at a partnership meeting on Tuesday (26 November). A positive response will be required for the merger bid to continue.