City firm Lovells and US firm Hogan & Hartson will unite to form Hogan Lovells on 1 May next year after partners gave the green light to a merger.

Hogan Lovells will have combined revenues of around $1.8bn (£1.1bn) and 2,500 lawyers in more than 40 offices across the globe, making it one of the 10 biggest firms in the world.

Lovells managing partner David Harris and Hogan & Hartson chairman Warren Gorrell will become co-chief executives of Hogan Lovells.

Harris said: ‘Hogan Lovells presents a compelling proposition to our clients and to the market more generally. The new firm will have unrivalled global capability and distinctive strengths in dispute resolution, regulatory, antitrust, corporate, finance, intellectual property and real estate.’

Gorrell said: ‘Each firm will preserve its shared cultural and core values – collegiality, teamwork, and worldwide leadership in community service.’