Law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is in merger talks with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

Representatives from both firms characterized the talks as “preliminary.”

A deal would result in a unified law firm with about 1,740 attorneys around the world.

San Francisco-based Orrick had revenue of $847.5 million last year compared to Akin’s $719 million.

Large scale mergers between law firms have become the norm as they seek the most profitable work generated by multinational companies that are investing, selling, acquiring and suing. Some notable big deals include Hogan & Hartson uniting with Lovells and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal’s combination with Denton Wilde Sapte.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/09/27/daily32.html