Latham & Watkins and Weil Gotshal & Manges are among a long list of US firms advising on the $11bn (£7.1bn) merger of US Airways and American Airlines parent company AMR, a deal set to create the world’s largest airline.

The boards of both companies have approved the merger with the majority share of the new company set to be owned by American Airlines’ bankruptcy creditors with a 72% shareholding.