Osborne Clarke (OC) has joined a clutch of top transatlantic firms acting on Apple's $3bn (£1.8bn) acquisition of Dr. Dre's headphone and music streaming company Beats Electronics.

A Californian-based OC team, led by relationship partner Steve Wilson, is advising longstanding client Beats on the transaction.

OC is working alongside US outfit Munger Tolles & Olson on the deal. The UK-headquartered firm has been a go-to adviser for the music technology company on a range of issues since general counsel Rafferty Jackson joined in March last year.

In an interview with a local Californian magazine, Rafferty named OC as "the only one firm I've hired flat out", adding that it handles all European and Middle East work for the company.

At Munger Tolles, Los Angeles corporate partner Kevin Masuda is reportedly leading the deal for Beats Electronics, while fellow corporate partner Brett Rodda is advising the company's music streaming subsidiary Beats Music.

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom landed the mandate advising Beats' controlling shareholders Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young) and Jimmy Iovine, with Los Angeles partner Brian McCarthy leading.

Apple is understood to have turned to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Weil Gotshal & Manges for advise on the purchase, which is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the final quarter of the year.