The potential merger between Dentons LLP and McKennz Long & Aldridge will be known shortly, according to the two firms who between them have over 3200 lawyers.

 
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Dentons, with 2,600 lawyers is the larger practice with its global reach although McKenna’s have 575 lawyers and both boards have recommended that the firms merge with a voting procedure that the firms confirm will be completed no later than November 14 2013.

Bloombergs report that both firms have experience combining with others. Dentons was formed by a merger with Fraser Milner Casgrain, Salans and SNR Denton, completed in March. McKenna Long undertook a major combination last year by acquiring the California law firm Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps, giving it lawyers at 15 offices in the U.S., Brussels and Seoul.

U.S. law firms have entered 58 mergers so far this year, compared to 60 in all of 2012, according to legal consultant Altman Weil Inc.’s MergerLine.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP said last week that they are in talks about merging the San Francisco-based law firms.

Cooley LLP, a firm with a strong technology practice, announced that it is combining with Dow Lohnes PLLC’s Washington office earlier this month.