Allen & Overy (A&O) and Slaughter and May have landed lead roles on the $4.8bn (£2.4bn) sale of Smiths Group’s aerospace business to General Electric (GE) and the setting up of a joint venture between the companies. Corporate partner David Wootton led the A&O team advising Smiths Group on the sale, which is due for completion during the second quarter of 2007. Slaughters advised GE, with corporate partner Frances Murphy leading the team.