Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Macquarie Capital on its agreement to acquire a 50% stake in environmental monitoring solutions (EMS) business, EMS B&K, from Spectris plc (LSE: SXS).

The transaction will establish a joint venture between Macquarie Capital and Spectris, a leading instrumentation and controls company headquartered in the UK, in relation to the future operation of the EMS business.

Corelink Rail Infrastructure, a new rolling stock lessor platform owned by Infracapital and Deutsche Asset Management, has purchased £700 million of rolling stock to fund its operation of the UK’s new West Midlands Trains franchise.

The investment is part of £1 billion of capital the new operators have committed to spend on improvements to the franchise. The £700 million will be used to purchase 100 new trains, creating space for 85,000 additional passengers to travel to London and Birmingham, as well as on station improvements.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Lightsource and its founders on the launch of the 'Lightsource BP' solar power partnership with BP.

The US$200 million investment by BP signals the beginning of a new partnership with Lightsource, Europe's largest solar operator, that will drive growth in large scale solar power. The transaction is a combination of the sale of shares by existing shareholders and subscription for shares in Lightsource.

Osborne Clarke has advised French group Casino, a well-established and key player in the French retail industry as well as a leader in the global food retail, on its successful negotiations and signing of a strategic agreement with Ocado Group to develop and adapt their advanced smart logistic platform OSP according to Casino’s requirements and challenges posed by shifting offline/online trends in the e-commerce grocery sector in France.

European law firm Fieldfisher has advised South London craft brewery, Brixton Brewery Limited on a strategic partnership with Heineken UK.

The strategic partnership and investment will enable Brixton Brewery to remain in Brixton and move to a larger brewing site, increasing its brewing capacity from 12,000 pints a week to 60,000.  The company will have greater control over the process and retain its strong community focus.

DLA Piper has advised global real estate advisor CBRE on its investment and strategic partnership with Stowga, the UK's first online marketplace for warehouse occupiers and logistics companies.

Orrick’s Paris team advised Air Austral – a Reunion airline company whose turnover reached €368.45 million for the 2016/2017 period for 1.1 million passengers with a fleet of eight airplanes – as part of a strategic partnership with Air Madagascar, in acquiring a 49% interest in Air Madagascar. Air Madagascar carried 467,000 passengers in 2016 through a fleet of 10 airplanes. The company includes 900 employees. The Madagascan State remains the majority shareholder with a 51% interest.

Ropes & Gray advised Lilly China in a strategic collaboration with leading China internet company Tencent and online healthcare service provider DXY to develop an integrated diabetes patient care platform in China. Known as the Lilly Connected Care Program (LCCP), the program will enable patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to better manage diabetes by utilizing internet technology, education and services to support their treatment goals.

King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has advised UK private equity firm Livingbridge on its partnership with TSA Management Pty Ltd, which specialises in providing independent project management services to private sector and government clients.

Livingbridge launched in Australia in 2016, and its investment in TSA Management represents the firm’s first Australian investment.

Cooley advised Arena Pharmaceuticals on a development and commercialization partnership with Everest Medicines for two product candidates in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea.