Finalists: Clifford Chance • Hogan Lovells • King & Wood Mallesons • RPC • Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom • Travers Smith
The standout deal in this category was a classic M&A takeover battle that dominated the headlines, ultimately preserving the independence of one of the UK’s flagship companies, AstraZeneca. During April and May US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer made four public bids for AstraZeneca in an attempt to pull off what would have been – at $120bn (£77bn) – by far the largest M&A deal of the year.
