Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Norton Rose Fulbright are among a host of firms advising on the proposed merger between FTSE 100-listed US goldmining company Randgold and Canadian rival Barrick of Canada, in a deal that will value the combined company at about $18bn (£13.7bn).

Freshfields is part of an international team advising Barrick, which owns the Goldstrike and Cortez mines in Nevada, alongside Canadian corporate law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg and US player Cravath Swaine & Moore. Offshore firm Carey Olsen is also advising.