The decision to merge follows a five-year alliance between the two firms. The new firm, to be called Guantao Zhongmao Law Firm after the merger, will boast around 500 lawyers and 100 partners after Zhongmao's team of 70 lawyers is added to the Guantao set. Guantao Zhongmao will practice across 14 domestic and international offices and focus on six key practice areas -- capital markets, M&A, bankruptcies and insolvencies, infrastructure and energy, banking and finance, and international trade.

Source: Asian Legal Business