Linklaters has taken a lead role for GDF Suez on its $9.5bn (£6bn) bid for the 30% of International Power (IPR) that it does not already own, reports The Am Law Daily.

Linklaters M&A partners Iain Wagstaff (pictured) in London and Marc Loy in Paris are advising GDF, after both led a team from the magic circle firm representing GDF when it acquired a majority stake in IPR in August 2010. That deal transformed GDF into the world’s largest utility company.