Linklaters' UK private equity team has signed its first major deal for Terra Firma, advising the private equity house on the disposal of its 50% stake in German motorway service operator Autobahn Tank & Rast.

The deal follows a competitive bidding process and is worth around €1.2bn (£807m).

Linklaters private equity head Charlie Jacobs and London private equity partner Richard Youle led the team for the magic circle firm, with German-based partners Peter Erbacher and Ralph Drebes also playing key roles.

The mandate represents a significant win for Linklaters' London private equity team, which acted for Terra Firma on a fundraising in 2002 but has done little for the client since 2004. However, the firm's German arm did advise on Terra Firma's 2004 purchase of Tank & Rast.

The role comes as Linklaters continues to rebuild its buy-out practice since the departures of partners Graham White and Raymond McKeeve to Kirkland & Ellis last year. The firm has acted for houses including HgCapital, Montagu and Bridgepoint in recent times and in February secured the hire of rated Clifford Chance partner Ian Bagshaw.

Magic circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for acquirer RREEF, the infrastructure division of Deutsche Bank, with corporate partner David Higgins leading the team. City finance partner Neil Falconer, Frankfurt finance partner Frank Laudenklos and Duesseldorf corporate duo Anselm Raddatz and Christoph Nawroth also advised.