Hammonds and Clifford Chance (CC) have won leading roles on Bridgepoint Capital's £281m acquisition of social care provider Care UK.

Hammonds corporate partner Trevor Ingle advised health and social care provider Care UK, a longstanding client of the firm, on its sale. The national law firm worked opposite CC corporate partners Lee Coney and Kem Ihenacho, who led the team advising Bridgepoint.

The deal also generated roles for Lovells, Jones Day and SJ Berwin. Lovells advised the management team at Care UK, fielding a team led by private equity head Alan Greenough, while Jones Day corporate partner James Goold advised non-executive chairman John Nash.

SJ Berwin, meanwhile, picked up a role advising a syndicate of lenders including Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group, with finance partner Stuart Brinkworth at the helm. The deal is the latest example of an upturn in activity in the recession-hit private equity market.

Ingle said: "Our healthcare team continues to experience high levels of activity across a broad range of disciplines and we are noticing a discernable upturn in activity among private equity bidders for the right companies in the right space."

Coney commented: "This is one of a few take-privates completed since Lehman. Hopefully it is a sign there will be more public deals by private equity in the year ahead."