Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hengeler Mueller have taken the lead roles on the €11.4bn (£7.7bn) sale of Siemens VDO Automotive in the latest major deal for the German industrial conglomerate.

Freshfields is advising car parts supplier Continental on what represents its largest-ever acquisition, fielding a team under Hamburg corporate partners Christoph Seibt and Marius Berenbrok.

Slaughter and May best friend Hengeler is advising Siemens, with corporate partners Maximilian Schiessl and Hans-Jorg Ziegenhain leading the team.