Freshfields and Linklaters scoop Rio Tinto-Alcan megadeal

Linklaters has scored the lead EU and US roles on Rio Tinto's $34bn (£16.75bn) bid for Canadian aluminium company Alcan.

Linklaters corporate partner Richard Godden is advising Rio Tinto, leading a team that includes competition partner Gavin Robert, corporate partner James Inglis and banking partner Stuart Thomas.

Linklaters antitrust partner Tom McGrath is advising Rio Tinto on US competition matters.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has bagged the EU competition work for Alcan, with the team being led by partners John Davies and Alan Ryan. Sullivan & Cromwell is handling the US antitrust side for Alcan.

Rio Tinto has picked McCarthy Tétrault as its leading Canadian counsel, with Alcan opting for Ogilvy Renault.

Rio Tinto's bid for Alcan comes weeks after mining competitor Alcoa made a hostile $33bn (£16.25bn) approach for the same target. Alcoa's advisers are Stikeman Elliot in Canada and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in the US.

Clifford Chance's global head of banking Mark Campbell is advising banks Deutsche Bank, RBS, Credit Suisse and Societe Generale.

The new group, Rio Tinto Alcan, will have its headquarters in Montreal.