U.K. law firm Norton Rose has agreed to acquire Australia’s Deacons, expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by more than 500 lawyers. Approved by votes at both partnerships on Monday, the tie-up will be the largest to date in the region.

“We are making a deliberate play to become one of the leaders in the Asia-Pacific region,” Norton Rose chief executive Peter Martyr says. “We think there’s a limited window for that.”