Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has scooped the highly coveted lead role on JP Morgan Chase’s $58bn (£31.6bn) takeover of Bank One, creating the second largest bank in the US after Citigroup.
The deal, a further sign of renewed confidence in the US M&A market, sees the banks combine on a stock-for-stock merger offering 1.32 shares in JP Morgan for every share in Bank One.

The new entity will operate under the JP Morgan brand.