China investment: Magic circle firm Clifford Chance, ­alongside Australian firm Mallesons, advised Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) on its $19.5bn (£13.4bn) investment in the Rio Tinto mining group. The transaction involved the issue of convertible bonds to ­Chinalco, which will increase Chinalco's shareholding in Rio Tinto to 18%. Magic circle firm Linklaters and Australian firm Allens Arthur Robinson advised Rio Tinto.

Express advice: National firm DLA Piper advised Agility Trains – the consortium ­comprising public finance project manager John Laing, Japanese engineering giant Hitachi and Barclays Private Equity – on securing preferred bidder status for the UK Department for Transport (DfT) £7.5bn Intercity Express programme. Magic circle firm Freshfields advised the DfT.

French bond: Magic circle firm Allen & Overy advised French bank BNP Paribas on a €15bn (£13.2bn) refinancing of its public sector assets, through the use of ‘obligations foncières’, or French covered bonds.

Cricket match: City firm ­Holman Fenwick Willan advised an unnamed Bollywood star on acquiring an 11% stake in ­Indian Premier League cricket champions the Rajasthan Royals, who were advised by City firm CMS Cameron McKenna.

Oyster renewal: City firm Herbert Smith advised ­Transport for London on ­renegotiating the contract for its Oyster card system. The contract replaces the existing 17-year private finance initiative deal with fare systems provider Cubic and outsourcer EDS. Cubic was advised by its in-house team, while US firm Jones Day advised EDS alongside its in-house team.