Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Shearman & Sterling have capped a breakthrough year for US firms in Paris by scooping the lead on another symbolic deal – the French Government’s upcoming sale of its stake in Air France-KLM.

The sale was announced on 9 December by French finance minister Herve Gaymard and will see the Government slash its stake in the French carrier from 44% to 25% in a deal expected to raise €700m (£486m).