Law firms Dealwatch: Magic Circle lead on £5.2bn Aviva takeover of Friends Life Sarah Downey · 2 December 2014 · 2 min read Corporate and M&A A&O Shearman Clifford Chance Linklaters 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 category‘M&A is back with a bang’ – global elite dominate deal rankings in best-ever H1Law firmsKate Peacock3 Jul 2026Will a flurry of mega-listings spark capital markets lift-off?Law firmsEliza Winter29 Jun 2026Revolving Doors: Latham taps Travers and Freshfields continues Germany rebuild with Hengeler hireLaw firmsEliza Winter29 Jun 2026Macfarlanes bumps NQ pay to £150,000Law firmsTom Cox2 Jul 2026Ashurst Perkins Coie referrals hit 500 since merger announcement, co-chairs sayLaw firmsWill Lewallen1 Jul 2026Revolving doors: Simpson Thacher, Latham, Sidley lead New Year London movesLaw firmsAnna Huntley9 Jan 2025‘Seize every opportunity’ – Paul Hastings partner Reena Gogna on City law, Suits and poetryLaw firmsAnna Huntley7 Jan 2025Five partners vie to succeed Hoyland as Simmons managing partnerLaw firmsTom Cox7 Jan 2025Former Freshfields senior partner among recipients in New Year Honours ListLaw firmsTom Cox2 Jan 2025