Diageo has instructed a trio of leading law firms on a $2.5bn (£1.5bn) financing deal that saw the London-based drinks giant tap the US bond markets.

The London-based company, which owns alcoholic beverage brands including Guinness, Baileys, Captain Morgan and Smirnoff, turned to Sullivan & Cromwell for US law advice with Slaughter and May taking the lead UK law role.

Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as underwriter counsel, advising Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Nomura and Royal Bank of Scotland, who were acting as joint book-runners.

The deal was largely led out of the firms' London offices, with input also from New York lawyers. Slaughters' team was led by Stephen Powell, the deputy head of the firm's financing practice, while Sullivan's team included London head Richard Morrissey. Davis Polk floated London and New York teams on the deal, which was led by corporate partner Paul Kumleben and tax partner John Paton, both based in London.

Diageo also instructed Morton Fraser for advice on Scottish law issues.

The deal saw Diageo tap US investors, issuing a total of $2.5bn in bonds split into five-year, 10-year and 20-year maturities.

Other law firms to have won appointments from Diageo in recent years have included CMS Cameron McKenna and Addleshaw Goddard as well as Ireland's McCann FitzGerald.