Linklaters and Herbert Smith have taken lead roles on National Grid's £3.3bn rights issue as the energy giant gears up for a major programme of investment.

The proceeds of the rights issue will allow National Grid to replace ageing assets, strengthen its infrastructure and upgrade UK networks to allow access to renewable sources of energy.

The fully underwritten issue will see shares handed out on a two for five basis, with one share worth 335p.

The UK-headquartered company, which operates the UK's electricity and gas networks as well as significant energy businesses in the US, posted a 12% rise in pre-tax profits to £1.97bn in the last financial year.

National Grid turned to long-term adviser Linklaters for advice on the rights issue, with the firm's team headed up by corporate partner Roger Barron (pictured), while US securities advice was provided by corporate partner Tom Shropshire.

Linklaters worked closely with National Grid's in-house team, which is led by general counsel Helen Mahy.

Herbert Smith advised the banks – Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank – with a team co-led by US corporate partner Alex Bafi and corporate partner Chris Haynes.

Barron told Legal Week: "We worked very closely with National Grid's excellent in-house team to get the rights issue through. Our integrated UK and US teams had to take into account the fact that the company has over a million shareholders across a number of jurisdictions leading to a lot of complex international securities advice."