GouldensGouldens last week finalised its merger with US giant Jones Day after a formal signing on Saturday (8 February) amid mounting evidence that the UK firm’s defacto takeover was forced through by a handful of City rainmakers.

The move, the most significant transatlantic merger since Chicago giant Mayer Brown & Platt merged with Rowe & Maw in February last year, creates the world’s sixth-largest firm with more than 2,000 lawyers, 200 of whom will be based in London.