Simmons & Simmons has now formally merged with its Portuguese best friend F Castelo Branco P Rebelo de Sousa & Associados. The firms have operated a joint venture in Portugal, known as Grupo Legal Português, for the last 10 years. Merger discussions between the two were revealed by The Lawyer last April (29 April 2002) and full financial integration has now been achieved. The firm's Portuguese operation, which has four partners and a total of 58 legal staff, will now be known as Simmons & Simmons Rebelo de Sousa. First revealed on www.thelawyer.com/lawyernews on 2 January