It looks set to be one of the most extraordinary deals in legal market history, ushering in a new era of global law, and so The Lawyer Podcast is here with an emergency edition to tell you what the A&O - Shearman & Sterling merger means.Hosts Cat and Christian are joined by deputy editor (City) Rachel Moloney to talk through why they have merged, why it is bold, and why, no matter what they say, it’s absolutely a takeover.Director of insight Matt Byrne also joins the podcast to discuss what it says about the future of the transatlantic market, and where it leaves other US and magic circle firms.