Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Pinsent Masons have taken lead roles on Eurotunnel Group’s controversial acquisition of assets owned by failed ferry operator SeaFrance, a long-running deal which was this month cleared by French competition regulators.

The deal, which stems from SeaFrance’s liquidation at the start of 2012, saw Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, subsequently chosen by the Commercial Court of Paris as the successful bidder for three SeaFrance ferries.