Allen & Overy (A&O), Herbert Smith and Ashurst have taken roles on Virgin Money’s £1bn bid for Northern Rock, the retail bank that was nationalised in 2008 after becoming one of the most high-profile UK casualties of the financial crisis.

Virgin Money, part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group business conglomerate, has instructed longstanding adviser A&O on the bid. The magic circle firm is fielding a team led by corporate chief Andrew Ballheimer.