Global law firm Freshfields advised Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy company, on the acquisition of the consumer and associated businesses of Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy co-operative. This purchase represents more than NZ$5.6bn of net sales (more than €2,8bn).

 The proposed transaction is subject to certain financial adjustments and conditions including approval by farmer shareholders, and obtaining certain regulatory approvals.

 The Freshfields team was led by Olivier Rogivue (Corporate/M&A, Paris) and included:

 Partners: Pervez Akhtar (Corporate/M&A, Dubai), Douglas Bryden (Environment, London), Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson (Competition, Paris), Vincent Daniel-Mayeur (Tax, Paris), Eric Johnson (Corporate/M&A, Hanoi), Richard Lister (IP, London), Jérôme Philippe (Competition, Paris)

 Counsel: Tony Gregory (IP, London)

 Senior Associates: Jeffrey Anand (People & Reward, New York), Charlotte Aspin (Environment, London), Juliette Brasart (Tax, Paris), Laure de Chalendar (Competition, Paris), Raghib Masrur (Corporate/M&A, Riyadh), Nalothiya Nambirajah (Corporate/M&A, Dubai), Juliette Sulli (Corporate/M&A, Paris)

 Associates: Jake Allingan (IP, London), Aliana Dhanani (Corporate/M&A, Dubai), Hannah Family (IP, London), Lucinda Huntsman (Environment, London), Paul Lesourd (Competition, Paris), Dieu Linh Ha (Corporate/M&A, Hanoi), Eric Mason (Corporate/M&A, New York), Dang Hai Nguyen (Corporate/M&A, Hanoi), Andrea Pandazopoulos (Corporate/M&A, Dubai), Emily Parfitt (IP, London), Taybah Siddiqi (IP, London), Kende Szabo (Corporate/M&A, Dubai)

 Legal consultant: Khaled Al-Sudairi (Corporate/M&A, Riyadh)

 Trainee associates: Saud Abanumay (Corporate/M&A, Riyadh), Rabiya Farooq (Corporate/M&A, Dubai)