Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have advised on US cable giant Liberty Global’s £481m purchase of a stake in ITV.

Owned by billionaire media executive John Malone, Liberty purchased the 6.4% share in the British broadcaster from BSkyB, but says it has no plans to buy ITV outright. Liberty did, however, reserve the right to make a takeover offer within the next six months.