Heavyweight New York trio Sullivan & Cromwell, Shearman & Sterling and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett this week bagged the lead roles on the $33bn (£18bn) buy-out of hospital chain HCA – the world’s largest-ever buy-out.

The deal involves buy-out giants Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR), and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity in the acquiring consortium.