Four US firms have won roles on the $4bn (£2.6bn) sale of Burger King to investment firm 3G Capital, as the world's second-largest hamburger chain returns to the private sector, reports The Am Law Daily.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom advised Burger King with a team led by Eileen Nugent, the co-head of the firm's private equity group, alongside M&A partners Thomas Greenberg and Richard Grossman, employee benefits chair Stuart Alperin, and banking partners James Douglas and Julia Czarniak.

Skadden has not traditionally handled deal work for Burger King, which was taken private in July 2002 by a trio of private equity firms. The fast food company went public with an initial public offering in May 2006, but has lagged behind industry leader McDonald's.

Skadden worked with longstanding Burger King adviser Holland & Knight on the deal, which is expected to close before the end of the year.

Holland & Knight corporate partners Kara MacCullough and Laurie Green led the firm's team advising Burger King, while Burger King general counsel Anne Chwat and assistant general counsel Lisa Giles-Klein headed up in-house legal matters.

Kirkland & Ellis M&A partners Stephen Fraidin and William Sorabella took the lead representing 3G, while Weil Gotshal & Manges private equity and M&A co-chair Michael Aiello is advising Morgan Stanley, Burger King's financial adviser on the deal.

The Am Law Daily is a blog on law.com, Legal Week's US affiliate title.