Magic circle duo Clifford Chance (CC) and Allen & Overy have taken lead roles on the €1.5bn (£1.19bn) hostile takeover approach by US office supply giant Staples for Dutch supplier Corporate Express, writes The American Lawyer.

CC is advising Staples on Dutch aspects of the bid, alongside a team from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, which is advising on US law. The WilmerHale team is being led by Boston-based corporate partners Jay Bothwick, Mark Borden and Wendell Taylor.