US firm Haynes and Boone has announced it is merging with London-based Curtis Davis Garrard, in a deal which it says highlights its belief that the capital’s pre-eminence will not be hit by last week’s Brexit vote.

The two firms are seeking regulatory approval for the deal, which if approved would create a firm with more than 600 lawyers.

Haynes and Boone, which has 14 offices in the US, Mexico and China, said it wanted to open a London office to better serve its clients’ growing need for English law advice on international business and litigation matters.

The firm said the merger underscores its belief that ‘London’s pre-eminence as a commercial and financial centre will not be impacted, long term, by the UK’s vote to leave the European Union’.

Simon Curtis (pictured), senior partner at Curtis Davis Garrard (CDG), said that prior to last week’s referendum both firms agreed that a vote to leave would not alter many strategic advantages of a merger.

He said: ‘Our clients’ business activities in the US, Asia, Latin America, Europe and beyond will not be adversely impacted by the vote. Further, both firms remain steadfast in believing that London will continue to be one of the world’s principal hubs for international business activity.’

Brad Richards, a partner at Haynes and Boone who handles cross-border transactions, will relocate from Houston to London to help lead the integration and the development of the London office.

Partners at both the firms have voted in favour of the merger, but are awaiting regulatory approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Once the deal is finalised, the merged firm will be called Haynes and Boone CDG LLP in the UK and Haynes and Boone in the US and other markets.

The deal comes a few weeks after commercial firm Bond Dickinson announced a ‘strategic alliance’ with full-service US firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP.