Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Herbert Smith Freehills and Weil, Gotshal & Manges have won mandates as Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich offloads a 40% stake in gold producer Highland Gold to a Russian holdings company.

Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich is among a group of shareholders selling the stake in Jersey-headquartered Highland Gold to Fortiana, a Cyprus-registered company owned by Russian businessman Vladislav Sviblov.