Kirkland & Ellis has bagged a lead role advising Bain Capital on its $3.5bn (£1.7bn) acquisition of African retailer Edgars Consolidated Stores – the largest leveraged buy-out on the African continent to date. Kirkland acted for regular client Bain, fielding a City-based team including corporate partners James Learner and Christopher Field, finance partners Stephen Gillespie and Neel Sachdev and tax partner Ian Taplin. Edgars was advised by Johannesburg firm Webber Wentzel Bowens. Legalweek.com (9 February)

Ashurst is advising Punch Graphix on a £131.6m bid by shareholder Punch International to acquire the share capital it does not already own. The team is being led by corporate partner Jeffrey Sultoon. O'Melveny & Myers advised the bidder.

Osborne Clarke property head Nadine Strahl advised Close Investments on the £71.6m sale of its offshore investment fund, The Capital Appreciation Trust, to Grainger Retirement Housing. Dickinson Dees corporate partner Nigel Bellis advised Grainger.

Clifford Chance corporate partner Nigel Wellings advised UK property investment group Warner Estate Holdings on its acquisition of JS Real Estate for £106m. Slaughter and May corporate partner Stephen Cooke (pictured) advised JS Real Estate.

Geldards corporate partner Andrew Morris has advised Finsbury Food Group on its acquisition of bakery company Lightbody Group for £46m. Maclay Murray & Spens chief executive Magnus Swanson advised Lightbody.

TLT Solicitors head of corporate finance John Wood has advised construction group Alfred McAlpine on its acquisition of environmental consultancy firm Enviros group from ECI Partners for £30m. Hammonds advised the seller.