Herbert Smith has won a coveted role alongside French corporate leader Bredin Prat and boutique Granrut Vatier Baudelot on the tieup between aerospace company Snecma and Sagem.

European telecommunications and defence contractor Sagem is merging with Snecma, which manufactures engines for defence vehicles. The merger is expected to create a defence, telecommunications and electronics group with a combined turnover of more than €10bn (£7bn).