Allen & Overy (A&O) and Linklaters have won lead roles on the hostile bid for Dana Petroleum by Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC).

The South Korean state-owned oil and gas company made a £1.87bn bid for the Aberdeen-based energy company last month (20 August), but Dana is fighting the takeover and has until 8 September to set out its defence.

A&O is advising Dana on the process with a team led by corporate partner Dominic Morris, while KNOC has instructed Linklaters on the takeover attempt, with City corporate partner Nick Rumsby leading the firm's team.

KNOC has offered £18 per share to acquire Dana, but after the UK company's board decided against recommending a takeover to its shareholders, the bidder has turned directly to the shareholders.

Dana's board last week urged shareholders not to act on the bid, which it said undervalued the company.

Ashurst also took a role on the deal, advising on the financing. The top 10 City firm advised Korea Eximbank, with a team led by Tokyo finance partner John McClenahan with Hong Kong corporate partner Robert Ogilvy Watson and Hong Kong finance partner Matthias Schemuth, assisted by loan markets partner Nick Benham and senior associate Luke McDougall in London, and energy counsel Matthew O'Connor in Tokyo.

The financial advisers on the bid are Bank of America Merrill Lynch for KNOC and RBC Capital Markets and Royal Bank of Scotland for Dana Petroleum.

The news comes after Dana made its largest-ever acquisition in June this year when it took over the Netherlands-based assets of Petro-Canada in a ‚Ǩ328m (£211m) deal.

Dana also turned to A&O for corporate advice on that deal, with the firm fielding a team led by City corporate partner Dominic Morris. Scots leader McGrigors advised on the bank finance aspects of the transaction with a team headed by banking and finance partner Iain Macaulay.

The deal also handed a role to Herbert Smith, which advised Petro-Canada and its parent company Suncor Energy.