Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Watchtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have won senior roles on ConocoPhillips’ $1.99bn (£1.1bn) bid for the Russian Government’s stake in Lukoil, the country’s second-largest oil company.

The landmark deal binds the US oil group and Lukoil in a strategic alliance, with the US company becoming an exclusive strategic equity investor after securing the Russian Government’s 7.6% stake in a competitive auction.