Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has staked its claim for membership of Europe’s club of top private equity advisers after securing headline roles on nine out of 10 of the year’s biggest pipeline deals.

The glut of instructions for Fresh-fields sees the firm take senior roles for coveted buy-out houses Apax, Cinven, CVC and Blackstone on a string of on-going deals, all with a value of more than €1bn (£682m).