Eversheds has scooped a lead role advising Icelandic food producer Bakkavor on its £485m acquisition of UK foods group Geest with the national giant acting opposite Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

The deal, which is expected to complete by May, sees Bakkavor subsidiary Bakkavor Invest acquire Geest in a deal that creates a convenience food group with a combined turnover of more than £1bn.