Herbert Smith and Clifford Chance (CC) have lined up to advise on Essar Energy’s exclusive agreement to buy Shell’s Stanlow refinery in Cheshire for around $350m (£214.4m).

The agreement, which will see Shell leave the UK refinery market if it goes through, saw Essar agree to pay a break fee of $50m (£31m) if it backs out of the deal before the exclusivity period ends on 31 March.