SJ Berwindy city tie-up with Mayer Brown

The talks follow the appointment of Paul Theiss as Mayer Brown chairman, replacing Bert Krueger in the role, and it is understood that the Chicago-headquartered firm is keeping its cards close to its chest on this one with few (if any) outside senior management in the loop.

SJ Berwin targeting Mayer Brown is a bit of a departure for the UK firm, which previously appeared to have its heart set on tying up with a New York player, most recently Proskauer Rose. That said, a number of years ago rumours circulated that SJ Berwin was talking to Sidley Austin - another Chicago firm - about a merger, so it’s not completely out of the blue.

The news comes as King & Wood Mallesons’ senior partner Stuart Fuller admitted, cryptically, that the Asia Pacific firmwas talking to either Nixon Peabody or SJ Berwin about a link-up.

Should someone let him know?