Davis Polk and Nauta team with A&O on ABN-Barclays deal

Davis Polk & Wardwell and Nauta Dutilh have taken lead roles advising ABN Amro on the Dutch bank’s merger discussions with Barclays.

The pair join Allen & Overy, which is advising ABN on issues relating to activist hedge fund, The Children's Investmentment Fund.

Barclays is being advised by a transatlantic tie-up between Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell.

Although it became clear yesterday that ABN panel firm A&O had a role on the potential £80bn merger talks, it was understood that a US firm would be instructed alongside the magic circle firm.

Davis Polk is fielding a multi-jurisdictional team led by the three ABN Amro client relationship partners: Paris-based corporate partner Margaret Tahyar, head of financial institutions Randall Guynn in New York, and London-based corporate partner Thomas Reid. Davis Polk is one of ABN Amro’s panel advisers.

Corporate partner Hein Hooghoudt is leading the Nauta Dutilh team.

They will work with relationship partners at A&O, Mike Duncan and Annelies van der Pauw.

Meanwhile, at Clifford Chance corporate partner Guy Norman is leading the team advising longstanding client Barclays.

Sullivan & Cromwell is also a favoured firm of Barclays in the US since it advised on the bank’s New York Stock Exchange listing.