Clifford Chance's (CC's) New York office has bagged a plum role advising Terra Firma on its acquisition of Pegasus Aviation Finance for $5.2bn (£2.6bn) from a partnership of investment funds.

CC is fielding team out of its New York and London bases, with US co-chair of M&A Brian Hoffmann leading the team in Manhattan and London-based corporate finance partner David Pearson and finance partner Geoffrey White playing key roles in the City.

New York leader Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison is representing Pegasus, which was owned by a consortium including senior management and backed by Oaktree Capital Management and LCC. Corporate partner Kenneth Schneider is leading the Paul Weiss team.

The deal is the first time CC's New York arm has advised Terra Firma – one of the City giant's key private equity clients – on a major deal.

Other notable private equity deals the office has advised on include Apax Partners' $1.6bn (£900m) acquisition of Tommy Hilfiger Corporation in February this year.