Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simmons & Simmons have both won lead roles on the sale of Springer Science+Business Media, a deal understood to be worth up to €2.2bn (£2bn).

Springer was advised by Freshfields on the sale, announced today (11 December), which sees Swedish private equity fund EQT and the Singapore Government’s GIC fund acquire the German publishing company. City-based private equity partner David Sonter led the magic circle firm’s team.