AshurstsThe slow-moving US invasion of Europe’s top legal market is set to take a major step forward as Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson and Jones Day both near the conclusion of merger campaigns with highly-respected London firms.

As Legal Week Global went to press, US giant Jones Day was scheduled to secure the acquisition of highly profitable London corporate specialist Gouldens on 8 February – amid clear signs the tie up is regarded as a “done deal”.