Leading international law firm Clifford Chance is advising ICG Strategic Equity (ICGSE) on the acquisition by ICGSE's managed funds of a portfolio of private equity investments from Standard Chartered Bank's (SCB) balance sheet, in conjunction with the management buyout of SCB's private equity unit by its senior executives. The spin-out firm will relaunch as Affirma Capital.

Global law firm Clyde & Co has advised Liberty House, the industrial arm of the GFG Alliance, on its purchase of Aluminium Dunkerque, Europe’s largest aluminium smelter from Rio Tinto.

The acquisition of the plant – to be renamed Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque – now paves the way for a downstream investment programme at the plant.

Linklaters has advised Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s largest asset manager, and the Employees Provident Fund, a Malaysian state pension fund, on their £1.6bn stake in the £9bn redevelopment of London’s Battersea power station. The two investors formed a joint venture to buy the commercial part of the power station building from Battersea Phase 2 Holding Company.

The building includes Apple’s new European HQ, and a new business members club owned by IWG.

The deal is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

Taylor Wessing has advised Synthace Ltd on its $25.6 million series B financing round.

Synthace is a leader in computer aided biology, and the company behind the leading cloud software platform for automating and improving the success rate of biological research and development.

Computer aided biology comprises two domains: the digital and the physcial. The digital, powered by artificial intelligence and the physical, enabled by automation.

Howard Palmer, corporate technology partner, commented:

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Amsterdam Trade Bank N.V. on its first securitisation of shipping loans, via ATB Shipping Finance I B.V. (a Dutch private company with limited liability). The transaction was arranged by Citibank and securitises a diversified portfolio of shipping loans, with borrowers located in a number of jurisdictions and security over vessels of a range of types and flag jurisdictions.

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is pleased to announce that it has enhanced its Greek law maritime disputes practice with the hire of new Athens Partner George Iatridis, who will be joining the firm in the New Year. Prior to joining WFW, George led the Greek law Dispute Resolution team at Ince & Co in Piraeus.

Shearman & Sterling announced that Tim Sheddick and Katie Hicks will join the firm as partners in the Project Development & Finance practice based in London.

""We are delighted to welcome Tim and Katie to the firm,"" said Shearman & Sterling’s Senior Partner David Beveridge. ""With their focus on the infrastructure fund business and relationships with top-tier sponsors, Tim and Katie will be an excellent addition. They are an important part of our strategic global growth plan and we look forward to continuing our expansion in the coming year.”

NEW YORK – Global law firm Reed Smith today announced that Peter Emmi has joined the firm as a partner in the Global Corporate Group in New York. Emmi has extensive experience representing clients with transactional matters in diverse industries, including internet technology, FinTech, blockchain, InsurTech, healthcare, medical device, biotechnology, media, virtual reality and solar technology.

International law firm Pinsent Masons has announced the hire of three new partners for its office in Dublin.

Bringing the partnership team to seven in total, the trio will strengthen the firm's offering across Financial Services, Real Estate and Energy & Projects at their Windmill Lane (Dublin 2) premises.

A global 100 law firm, Pinsent Masons has an all-island offering with premises in Dublin and Belfast, as well as employing over 3000 people globally across 24 offices, including over 1500 lawyers and 400 partners.

Baker McKenzie advised Akzo Nobel N.V., a global paints and coatings company headquartered in the Netherlands, on the acquisition of full ownership of its decorative paints joint venture from Swire Industrial Limited, a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Limited and a Hong Kong listed conglomerate with interests in property, aviation, beverages and maritime, among others. The deal was signed today.