Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) are leading as a U.K. student accommodation company targets its rival in a £1.4 billion takeover.

The Unite Group is looking to acquire Liberty Living Group from pension fund manager the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

As rivals in the U.K. student accommodation market, Unite houses about 50,000 students in 130 properties across 22 university cities, while Liberty manages more than 24,000 beds across 51 student residences, with a portfolio valued at about £2 billion.

HSF is representing Unite on the transaction, with a team led by M&A partner Alex Kay, equity capital markets partner Charles Howarth, and competition partner Andre Pretorius, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed.

BCLP also has a role for Unite, the person added, advising on real estate and financial elements of the deal with funds and investment management partner Justin Cornelius acting.

Clifford Chance is advising CPPIB, a spokesperson at the firm confirmed. CPPIB has about $392 billion under management, and has often called on CC and other Magic Circle firms for advice in recent years.

In 2015, it advised CPPIB when it bought a one-third stake in the UK's largest owner of ports, Associated British Ports, for £1.6 billion.