Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Willkie Farr & Gallagher have secured lead roles on Europe’s largest utilities deal this year – Electricite de France (EDF) and AEM’s E7.28bn (£5bn) takeover of Italian power group Edison.

The deal sees EDF join forces with Milan-based AEM to acquire holding company Italenergia, which owns a 62% stake in Edison, for E4.08bn (£2.81bn).