A raft firms have landed roles advising on the £510m buyout of Pearl Group by acquisition vehicle Liberty International.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Lovells, Clifford Chance (CC), Olswang and Greenberg Traurig have all won roles on the deal, which reduces Pearl's debts.

Freshfields advised longstanding client Pearl on the deal, with financial institutions partner Robert Stirling leading the team assisted by London tax partner David Taylor.

New York leader Simpson Thacher stepped in to advise Pearl on the financing, with London finance partner Stephen Short leading. CC advised Pearl's board under regulation partner Katherine Coates.

Olswang advised Liberty International on the takeover, with corporate chief Fabrizio Carpanini leading the team. Liberty turned to Greenberg Traurig for US advice.

Lovells also picked up a mandate acting for a banking syndicate including HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland. The firm fielded a team including London restructuring partner Stephen Foster, banking partner Matthew Cottis, corporate partner Charles Rix and M&A partner Richard Ufland.

Freshfields' Stirling said: "This was an unusual transaction involving both a capital restructuring and acquisition by a special purpose acquisition vehicle, of which there have not been many involved in UK M&A. For Pearl it provides an opportunity to bolster its capital and to move forward despite the recent market conditions."