Clifford Chance (CC) has landed a mandate to advise top corporate client British Energy (BE) on the UK Government's disposal of a 25% share in the nuclear supplier – a deal estimated to be worth up to £2.5bn.

BE, which is selling the stake by way of shares to institutional investors, is being advised by CC corporate finance partners David Lewis and Alison Price, together with BE corporate relationship partners Mark Poulton and Daniel Kossoff.

Commenting on the sale, Lewis said: "We are pleased to assist British Energy with this transaction. It has been a huge effort across the firm and we look forward to assisting the company further in relation to the new nuclear-build landscape."

The instruction will be a boost for CC's corporate department, which counts BE as one of its largest clients. The magic circle firm advised on the company's marathon restructuring, which ended in 2005 after two and a half years and generated around £25m in legal fees.

However, In April CC was forced to turn down a major litigation instruction from BE due to its close links with the defendant, major banking client Credit Suisse.

The role comes in the week CC unveiled its 2006-07 financial results, posting global turnover of £1.029bn, a rise of 16%, while average partner profits broke the £1m barrier for the first time in the firm's history.