Simmons & Simmons has advised Sempra Energy Trading on its £103m acquisition of Enron Metals in what is expected to be the first of a raft of sell-offs following the collapse of the energy giant.

The deal proved time-consuming and complex for the firms involved and a further boost for Simmons’ strong reputation for contentious energy work. Enron administrator Dipankar Ghosh is said to have described it as the most complex transaction “he had done in 25 years”.