Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have taken the lead roles on a potential £2.3bn takeover of Associated British Ports (ABP) by a Goldman Sachs-led consortium.

Freshfields corporate partners Edward Braham and David Higgins are advising the consortium, while Slaughters ABP relationship partner Richard de Carle is lead adviser to the target. Slaughters is a longstanding adviser to the client, having advised the company on its 1983 flotation.