Linklaters’ New York corporate team has picked up a lead role for WellPoint on its $4.5bn (£2.9bn) acquisition of healthcare rival Amerigroup.

The magic circle firm fielded a US team led by corporate partner Dan Dufner for WellPoint – the second-largest health insurer in the US. He worked alongside US head of employment Bindu Culas, competition partner Jeff Schmidt, co-head of US banking Jeff Norton and tax partner Gordon Warnke.