Burges Salmon has taken a lead role opposite Allen & Overy (A&O) on the £2bn merger of dairy co-operatives Milk Link and Denmark's Arla Foods, in a deal which will create the largest operator in the UK dairy market.

Burges Salmon senior partner Alan Barr and corporate partner Camilla Usher-Clark (pictured) led the team advising longstanding client Milk Link on the tie-up, alongside competition head Laura Claydon, head of food and farming William Neville, employment partner Roger Bull and pensions partner Michael Hayles.

A&O corporate partner Alun Eynon-Evans led a team from the magic circle firm advising Arla, the business behind brands such as Lurpak and Anchor.

Usher-Clark commented: "It is very satisfying to have reached this stage in what is naturally a very challenging process involving a number of complex legal and commercial issues. The deal fulfils a 12-year strategy which will make Milk Link's farmers full members of the world's fourth largest farmer-owned dairy co-operative."

Burges Salmon referral firm Gorrissen Federspiel advised on Danish law aspects of the merger, with Denmark's Kromann Reumert instructed by Arla.

Milk Link, which was created in 2000 following the break-up of the Milk Marketing Board, is entirely owned by British dairy farmers and employs around 1,200 people at eight processing facilities It generated £586m turnover in 2010-11.