Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has scooped a role as international legal counsel to the Australian Government on its planned $19bn (£11bn) sale of its remaining stake in telecommunications giant Telstra.

The Australian minister for finance and administration, senator Nick Minchin, confirmed on Tuesday (29 November) that the New York-based leader had been chosen to represent it on international issues of the possible sale, one of the largest-ever share sales.