Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has bagged the lead role on the biggest German leveraged buy-out this year, advising Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners on the €4bn (£2.7bn) acquisition of Linde’s forklift truck division.

The deal is also the largest successful bid Freshfields has advised KKR on. Frankfurt corporate partners Andreas Fabritius and Nikolaus Reinhuber led the team. Other lawyers to play lead roles included KKR relationship partner Laurie McFadden.