Herbert Smith Freehills and Slaughter and May are advising on British beverage giant Diageo's £1.2bn purchase of a 53.4% stake in Indian drinks company United Spirits.

Herbert Smith is acting for United Spirits and parent company United Breweries led by City corporate partners Alan Montgomery and Roddy Martin alongside India practice chairman Chris Parsons.

Indian firms Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co and Kanga & Co are advising on local law aspects. United Spirits owns brands such as Whyte & Mackay, Black Dog and McDowell's No.1.