A raft of law firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom are advising on Doughty Hanson's £450m acquisition of cinema chain Vue Entertainment.

Skadden advised Doughty, with London partner Allan Murray-Jones and counsel Julie Bradshaw leading the US law firm's corporate team and finance partner Mark Darley advising on the debt side.

Freshfields advised Vue, fielding a City team including M&A and private equity partner Laurie McFadden and London banking head David Trot.

The sale, announced last week (8 November), sees Doughty buy the UK cinema chain from Vue's management and investors Cavendish Square Partners and Och-Ziff Capital Management Group. Under the terms of the agreement the management team, which took a 51% stake in the chain through a 2006 buyout, will reinvest to take a minority stake in the cinema chain.

Travers Smith advised Vue's management led by private equity partner David Innes – who has announced his departure to US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton – with the team also including tax partner Russell Warren and banking partner Matthew Ayre.

Meanwhile, DLA Piper City corporate partner Mel Sims advised Cavendish Square Partners, while Allen & Overy corporate partner George Knighton advised Och-Ziff. DLA Piper also took on a real estate role for Vue.

The 2006 management buyout from then owners Boston Ventures and Clarity Partners saw Freshfields, Travers and DLA Piper advising alongside US firm Ropes & Gray.