Allen & Overy (A&O) has bagged its third multibillion-pound deal so far this month after securing a lead role advising French electronics supplier Sonepar on its A2.5bn (£1.7bn) bid for Dutch rival Hagemeyer.

The magic circle law firm has lined up with Slaughter and May's French best friend Bredin Prat to advise the bidder.

Amsterdam corporate partners Jan Louis Burggraaf and Tim Stevens spearheaded the A&O team advising on Dutch law aspects with tax partner Olaf van der Donk also playing a key role.

Bredin Prat is advising the company on French law with M&A partners Jean-Francois Prat and Philippe Beurier heading its team.

This is the second time in recent weeks A&O has teamed up with Bredin Prat. Earlier this month German software provider SAP called on the duo to advise on its A4.8bn (£3.4bn) approach for French rival Business Objects.

A&O is advising on German and US law while Bredin Prat is advising on French aspects.

Meanwhile, Herbert Smith Benelux ally Stibbe is advising long-term client Hagemeyer, fielding a team under Amsterdam corporate partners Fons Leijten and Egbert Vroom. Previous large mandates the company has instructed Stibbe on include a E460m (£318m) rights offering when it listed on Euronext.

Commenting on the Dutch deal market, Leijten said: "There was a bit of a lull in the M&A market [because of the credit crunch] but the deal flow seems to be picking up again."