Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have won roles on the highly anticipated Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of American International Assurance (AIA), reports The Am Law Daily.

Freshfields partners Teresa Ko and Kay-Ian Ng are advising on Hong Kong law for AIA – the Asian division of bailed-out insurance giant AIG. The potential proceeds from the listing have been estimated at up to $14.9bn (£9.3bn).

US firm Debevoise & Plimpton is advising AIA on US law and international private placement issues with a team led by Edward Drew Dutton, who recently relocated to Hong Kong from Paris, alongside partners Thomas Britt in Hong Kong and Peter Loughran and John Vasily in New York.

Meanwhile, Linklaters and Sullivan & Cromwell are representing the joint lead underwriters on the deal – Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Linklaters is advising on Hong Kong law, while Sullivan & Cromwell is handling US law.

While the listing will be in Hong Kong, US firms have a major role to play – institutional investors generally expect such major offerings to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure requirements.

AIG announced plans to spin off its Asian division, since renamed AIA, last year as part of its plan to repay the US government for the $85bn (£53bn) taxpayer bailout that rescued the company in autumn 2008.

The planned IPO was postponed earlier this year after Prudential bid $35.5bn (£22.2) to acquire AIA, an offer that was later withdrawn. Debevoise had represented AIG in negotiations over the potential sale.

One of Asia's largest life insurers, AIA operates across East and Southeast Asia. The company is expected to make its trading debut later this month.

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