Bredin Prat and Vinson advise on China's investment in GDF Suez

The deal would see CIC take a 30 per cent stake in the exploration and production division of GDF Suez and a 10 per cent stake in the Atlantic LNG liquefaction plant in Trinidad & Tobago.

CIC will pay €2.3bn for the stake in the French utilities giant and another €600m for the stake in Atlantic LNG.

Linklaters advised GDF, with Paris partners Marc Loy and Marc Petitier leading, assisted by Paris associates Louis-François Guéret and Nicolas Le Guillou.

Corporate partner Iain Wagstaff advised out of London alongside associates Mark Cooper and Ben Burger and projects partner Fiona Hobbs as well as associate Rachel Morse.

GDF was also advised by French firm Bredin Prat, which fielded a team consisting of corporate partners Patrick Dziewolski and Matthieu Pouchepadass, antitrust partner Marc Pittie and tax partner Yves Rutschmann.

Cravath Swaine & Moore advised GDF on aspects of the LNG deal, while CIC instructed Vinson & Elkins.