Linklaters has taken the lead role for BP as the oil giant moves to borrow $5bn (£3bn) by pledging sales revenues from two oil fields.

BP has raised the multibillion-dollar sum via a banking deal involving oil revenues from two separate fields in Azerbaijan and Angola, with Herbert Smith advising the arranging banks on the $3bn (£2bn) Angola loan and Baker & McKenzie advising the banks on the Azerbaijan deal.

BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered were the arranging banks on the Angola loan, while on the Azerbaijan deal, Royal Bank of Scotland and Societe General have arranged a $2bn (£1bn) loan for BP.

City-based energy and infrastructure partner Manzer Ijaz led the Linklaters team, which also included City banking partner Toby Grimstone.

The Herbert Smith team is understood to have been led by Moscow energy partner Ed Baring alongside City energy finance partner Jason Fox, while City project finance partner Calvin Walker led the Bakers team.

BP has moved to sell off a host of global assets worth billions to finance the substantial clean-up bill from the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Recent deals have handed roles to City firms including Slaughter and May and CMS Cameron McKenna, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also won a role for the company during the summer as it moved to avoid unwanted takeover bids as a result of the spill.

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