Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has scooped the lead role advising the Philip Green consortium on his £9bn takeover bid for Marks & Spencer (M&S), Britain's largest clothing retailer.

The instruction is a major coup for the magic circle firm as it is not thought to have previously advised Green, who has instructed Allen & Overy and Simmons & Simmons on takeover bids in the past.

Slaughter and May is advising M&S, in a repeat battle between the two parties. In 2000, Slaughters' Nigel Boardman successfully defended M&S against a hostile bid from Green and will be charged with the same task again.