Five national firms have advised on the secondary buyout of a stake in fruit company Empire World Trade (EWT).

HBJ Gateley Wareing, Browne Jacobson, DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons and Addle-shaw Goddard all secured roles on the deal, which saw 3i sell its minority stake in the company to ISIS Equity Partners and HSBC for an undisclosed sum.

HBJ corporate partner Austin Moore advised EWT's shareholders. HBJ has acted for EWT since 1997 when it represented the management team on the original management buy-out.