The number of law firm mergers in the US last year was on a par with those recorded in 2011, but the clear trend is that larger business law practices are looking to cross-border links as a way of buffering themselves against still stormy economic conditions. The survey highlighted nine international mergers involving US firms last year, the highest ever since the researchers began keeping records, which admittedly is only five years ago. The results of our survey of global private practice indicate the appetite for merger extends beyond the US. More than 30 per cent of law firm partners said they had considered or were about to consider marriage with another practice.