InBev lines up CC, Linklaters and Sullivan for panel

InBev, the world's largest brewing company, finalised its first-ever global panel review last month. Clifford Chance, Linklaters and Sullivan & Cromwell were the firms still standing. They will have first bite of the company's annual E30m (£20.67m) legal spend and are already working on their first mandates.

InBev global general counsel Sabine Chalmers, who joined from rival drinks giant Diageo last year, headed the review. It left past advisers such as Allen & Overy, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, Herbert Smith, Lovells and Simmons & Simmons holding an empty glass.

Chalmers, who was looking for global coverage, comments: "We spoke to general counsel at investment banks and at major companies, and these three names just kept coming up."