Sullivan & Cromwell has scooped a starring role on one of the year's largest deals so far, advising drinks giant InBev on its approach for market rival Anheuser-Busch.

Sullivan is acting for InBev on the unsolicited bid, which values the target at $47bn (£23.6bn) and would unite two of the world's four largest brewers.

Leading the team for the elite New York law firm are corporate partners Frank Aquila, George Sampas and Jim Morphy in the US alongside City-based corporate partner George White.

Antitrust partners Yvonne Quinn and Ted Edelman are also involved for Sullivan, as are tax partner Ron Creamer and executive compensation partner Marc Trevino.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is thought to be acting on behalf of Anheuser-Busch, a regular client of the US law firm.

Belgium-based InBev is the largest brewer in the UK and continental Europe and also has a strong presence in South America, having been formed by the merger of Interbrew and Brazilian drinks giant AmBev in 2004.

If the deal goes ahead, it would give InBev – which owns drinks brands including Stella Artois, Beck's and Brahma – significant exposure to the US drinks market, where Anheuser-Busch is best known for its iconic Budweiser brand.

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