A Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer conflict has gifted Herbert Smith with its first deal for LogicaCMG, advising on the IT services giant’s €930m (£627m) takeover of French rival Unilog and a related £389m rights issue.

The instruction is significant for Herbert Smith’s corporate team, which was introduced to the company after acting for Merrill Lynch and Close Brothers as financial advisers on Logica’s merger with CMG in 2002.