Four leading Wall Street firms have advised on the latest grand-scale banking rescue as Wachovia joins the ranks of banking giants to fall victim to the credit crunch.

Davis Polk & Wardwell and Sullivan & Cromwell took the lead roles on Citi’s acquisition of Wachovia’s banking operations for $2.16bn (£1.16bn). Citi will take on around $53bn (£29bn) worth of Wachovia debt in the rescue deal, backed by the US Government.