Linklaters has been named by electrical product supplier Electrocomponents as its main corporate adviser, beating a trio of top firms to win the coveted mandate.

Linklaters saw off magic circle arch rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer plus competitors including Ashurst and Clifford Chance to bag the role in the company's first competitive review of outside counsel.

Linklaters will now handle the bulk of its mainstream work including litigation, share schemes, M&A and securitisation.

Corporate partner Roger Barron will oversee the Linklaters team representing the client, alongside managing associate Aisling Zarraga.

Historical adviser Norton Rose lost out on the main corporate mandate but was retained to advise on treasury matters.

The review was led by Electrocomponents general counsel and former Freshfields lawyer Ian Haslegrave, who joined the FTSE 250 industrial parts distributor from sales and marketing company Viacom Outdoor last September.

Barron said: "It will be great to be working for a global FTSE 250 company [with] such strong aspirations to grow, especially in Asia, where we have particular strength."

Haslegrave added: "Electrocomponents is going through a phase of rapid growth, especially in Asia, and it is crucial that our advisers are able to provide consistent levels of support in the UK and internationally."

Electrocomponents has 1.4 million customers worldwide and last year posted annual sales of £829m.

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