Ashurst and Clifford Chance’s (CC’s) roles on a A2bn (£1.4bn) real estate deal (see right) would be decent instructions in the property sector in any circumstances, but with the market looking far from rosy, it is a very handy deal for any firm to have in its back pocket.

Even more significantly, despite markets around the world feeling the impact of the credit squeeze, the acquisition was funded with a hefty chunk of debt.