Dealwatch: Magic Circle lead on £5.2bn Aviva takeover of Friends Life Sarah Downey2 December 2014Corporate and M&A In one of the biggest deals the UK insurance sector has seen in years, Aviva‘s acquisition of Friends Life for £5.2bn has also gifted Magic Circle trio Linklaters, Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance with leading advisory roles.Your limit of 1 article in 30 days is up. Please login for full access or subscribe. Corporate users - click here for simple access (no password needed). For more information, please contact [email protected] Related ContentMore in this categoryThe ‘football managers’ of the legal world – why real estate PE partners are in high demandRevolving doors: Sidley raids Latham again as Fried Frank taps Kirkland for latest London hirePaul Hastings restocks high yield with A&O Shearman partner and relaunches Brussels officeFreshfields takes headline role on £575m Telegraph acquisitionDLA Piper and Proskauer lead on BrewDog’s sale to US cannabis and drinks manufacturerPaul Hastings hires London M&A partner from Slaughter and MayRevolving doors: Simpson Thacher, Latham, Sidley lead New Year London movesFive partners vie to succeed Hoyland as Simmons managing partner‘Seize every opportunity’ – Paul Hastings partner Reena Gogna on City law, Suits and poetry