Cravath Swaine & Moore and Shearman & Sterling have taken the lead roles on Johnson & Johnson’s $21.3bn (£12.8bn) acquisition of orthopaedic devices manufacturer Synthes, reports the Am Law Daily.

Cravath is acting for Johnson & Johnson on the deal, which ranks as the healthcare giant’s largest to date. The US firm’s team is led by corporate partner Robert Townsend, alongside corporate partner Damien Zoubek, compensation and benefits partner Eric Hilfers and tax partner Andrew Needham.