The partners at law firms Lovells and Hogan & Hartson have decided to merge the two firms. 

The new firm will be called Hogan Lovells and will have approximately 2,500 lawyers operating out of more than 40 offices located around the world.

Subject to regulatory clearances, Hogan Lovells will come into effect from 1 May 2010.

David Harris, partner at Lovells, says the new firm will offer clients a high quality transatlantic capability with extensive reach into the world's financial and commercial centres; particular strengths in the areas of dispute resolution, regulatory, antitrust, corporate, finance, intellectual property and real estate; and access to a significant depth of legal knowledge and resource in many industry sectors, including energy, financial services, telecommunications media and technology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, real estate, natural resources and infrastructure.