Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has won two high profile litigation mandates for British American Tobacco and Asda.

The firm has been called in by British American Tobacco (BAT) to take the lead on the company's challenge to the UK government's plain packaging legislation. The Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 contains a ban on cigarette packet branding, with cigarettes having to be sold in plain packets of uniform shape, design and size with only specified text.

The company has also enlisted Hogan Lovells to advise on intellectual property issues relating to the case. BAT has also turned to 39 Essex Chambers' Nigel Pleming QC and One Essex Court's intellectual property specialist Geoffrey Hobbs QC.