Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is close to sealing a merger with the New York arm of Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman in a deal that would add 100 lawyers to the firm’s Manhattan practice.

The talks, which Orrick insiders believe could produce a deal in a matter of days, largely comprise the legacy practice of New York firm Shereff Friedman Hoffman & Goodman, which merged with Washington DC-based Swidler & Berlin in 1998.