Linklaters, Baker & McKenzie and Allens Arthur Robinson have all advised on the $2bn (£1.3bn) joint venture between Rio Tinto and Chalco to build a new mine, rail and port infrastructure in Guinea.

Linklaters advised Rio on UK and US law with a team led by corporate partner James Inglis alongside competition partner Gavin Robert, tax partner Elizabeth Conway and US corporate partner Tom Shropshire.

Allens also acted for Rio with a team comprising energy partners Scott Langford, Nic Tole and Ted Hill, banking and finance partner Steve Pemberton and M&A partner Richard Kriedemann.

Bakers advised Chalco, the subsidiary of Chinese aluminum company Chinalco, with Beijing-based M&A partners Stanley Jia and Andrew Lucas leading the US firm's team.

Langford said: "This binding agreement culminates what has been a lot of hard work, so we are thrilled with the result.

"One of Rio's top priorities is to develop its relationship and business links with China, so we are delighted to be able to assist our client in establishing this ground-breaking joint venture."

The new development, known as the Simandou iron ore project, will include the planning, construction and management of the mine, rail and port.

The joint venture comes after Rio pulled out of a deal with Chinalco in June last year, which would have seen the state-owned company pay $19.5bn (£12.2bn) for an 18% interest in Rio and stakes in its copper, aluminum and iron mines.