Slaughter and May and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher have bagged the lead roles on Whitbread’s £1bn disposal of Marriott hotels as the magic circle firm continues a surging runs of deals.

Slaughters is acted for long-term client Whitbread on the deal, which is transferring the running of the hotels to leisure group Marriott. The deal will see the hotels portfolio put into a joint venture which is then expected to sell them off individually.