Allen & Overy (A&O) has landed a lead role advised US pharmaceuticals group Schering Plough on its €11bn (£7.5bn) acquisition of the medicines business of Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel.

The A&O team was led by Amsterdam corporate partner Sietze Hepkema alongside banking partner Andrew Thomas and tax partner Olaf van der Donk. US advice was provided by banking partner Thomas Abbondante, capital markets partner Cathleen McLaughlin and senior banking counsel Julian Weldon.