Lovells and Hogan & Hartson partners have begun voting on the transatlantic merger due to go live in May 2010.

The vote will pave the way for partners at both firms to see a number of changes to their terms, with Lovells partners set to benefit from the removal of a mandatory retirement age, while Hogan US partners are expected to formally gain set holiday entitlement.

Partners kicked off the merger vote last week and it will close on 15 December. Lovells needs approval from 75% of the partnership in order to push ahead with the deal.

Within Lovells the merger is expected to win considerable support after last month's partnership meeting in Lisbon saw detailed discussions cover how the merged firm, to be called Hogan Lovells, will look.

The merger of equals deal would see the combined firm keep two operational centres, one in London and the other in Washington DC – rather than opting for a single base.

Though the model will see the firms maintaining two partnership entities and would block direct profit-sharing, the firms are set to align remuneration policies, with Lovells moving closer towards Hogan's contribution-based model for partner pay.

Lovells partners will see the firm's official partner retirement age of 65 removed, in line with Hogan's US structure, which does not have a retirement age and allows partners to work as long as they like with pay tailing off accordingly.

Separately, it is understood that Hogan partners will gain the same 30-day holiday entitlement as Lovells partners.