Corrs CEO John Denton has issued an unequivocal denial that his firm is in merger talks with any other firm. The denial comes following widespread industry speculation that merger talks were in progress. ALB had received  reports that Corrs was slimming down its partner ranks in preparation for a merger.

"Corrs is not in merger discussions with any Australian or international law firm," said Denton in a statement released in response to media queries. "Our current priority and focus is targeted organic growth. We will continue to recruit market-leading practitioners and promote internally to assist this growth.  Many partners who see Corrs growing while their firms try to shrink are approaching Corrs directly."

Denton went on to comment that rival Australian firms were too big to be attractive targets to overseas suitors and that Corrs was better placed in this regard. "We are clearly attractive to a number of firms as a potential merger target given our partner and staff quality, our client relationships, unique Asian expertise, size and business position," he said.

Rumours relating to prospective mergers have been particularly rife lately and Mallesons chief Robert Milliner was last week forced to send a firm-wide email to quash speculation arising from a story in the Australian Financial Review which implied that a Mallesons merger was imminent. Milliner said that, despite the "excitable" tone of the article, no merger was imminent and the article was "irresponsible for suggesting otherwise."