King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) and Allens Arthur Robinson have landed lead roles on the $820m (£539.6m) sale of Rio Tinto’s stake in Northparkes to China Molybednum.

Rio Tinto said this week it had reached an agreement with the Chinese company for the transfer of its 80% interest in the New South Wales gold and copper mine, which it expects to close by the end of the year.