Transatlantic relations dominated the legal as well as mainstream press last week, with mergers, integration efforts and salary hedging all attracting attention.

First up was Norton Rose Fulbright which, not content with the transatlantic merger that created it, is on course for a second US merger after entering into merger talks with Chadbourne & Parke.

The discussions, which started sometime in the summer last year, could give the verein giant the more significant New York presence it has sought for years. We canvassed City partners for their views on the prospects for the proposed union, which has particular crossover in disputes, energy and project finance.

Carrying on the merger theme, last week also saw the go-live date of newly combined Eversheds Sutherland – the new firm's management set out integration plans to both Legal Week and US sister title The American Lawyer.

Meanwhile, early transatlantic adopter Hogan Lovells has called on its partners to pay in additional cash in a bid to boost its capital reserves. Partners will pay in an extra 7.5% more capital each year for the next five years – equating to around £10m each year.

Here's the best of the week's other news and analysis: