Defence deal: Birmingham firm Wragge & Co advised the Ministry of Defence, as part of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, on a £3bn contract to build aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – which will be the largest warships ever designed and built in the UK.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance, comprising BAE Systems, BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock Marine and Thales UK, was advised by national firm Pinsent Masons.

Exhibition deal: London firm Olswang advised events organiser Reed Exhibitions on the sale of its three defence exhibitions to Clarion Defence: DSEi, the world’s largest defence and security ­exhibition; ITEC, the training and simulation exhibition; and LAAD, the biannual Rio de Janeiro conference. Clarion Defence was advised by ­London firm Joelson Wilson.

News deal: The London and New York offices of US firm Skadden advised News Corporation on taking its public subsidiary, NDS Group, private. The privatisation took place alongside two new incorporated companies formed by Permira Advisers, advised by Clifford Chance. Fellow magic circle firm Allen & Overy acted for NDS. Permira’s two new companies and News Corporation will respectively own 51% and 49% of NDS, which is worth $3.6bn (£1.82bn).

Energy deal: The London office of US firm Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker advised Fox-Davies Capital as joint underwriter and co-lead manager on the flotation of Cadogan Petroleum, which had a market cap of approximately £530m on listing. City firm Denton Wilde Sapte ­represented Cadogan ­Petroleum while UBS, the sole global co-ordinator, bookrunner and sponsor, was advised by City firm Herbert Smith.

Sewerage deal: The Dubai office of Clifford Chance advised Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank as lender on the $400m (£202m) Abu Dhabi Sewage Project, which will see two greenfield sewerage treatment facilities built at Al Saad and Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi. US firm Milbank and Emirates International Law Firm acted for the sponsors, while US firm Dewey & LeBoeuf acted for the ­procurers.

Hire deal: City firm Travers Smith advised hire equipment provider Ashtead Group on the £96m auction sale of Ashtead Technology Rentals – which rents equipment to the offshore oil and gas sector and the environmental monitoring and testing industry – to funds advised by Phoenix Equity Partners, advised by City firm Macfarlanes.