Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have confirmed that they are engaged in talks to combine into what could create a more than 1,800-lawyer firm, writes The American Lawyer.

A spokeswoman for Akin Gump confirmed that the two firms are “in exploratory discussions regarding the possibility of a merger,” and a spokesman for Orrick said the firms “have held preliminary discussions about the possibility of a merger.”