Herbert Smith Freehills, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Norton Rose and Shearman & Sterling are among a raft of law firms to have advised on Delta Air Lines’ $360m (£223m) acquisition of a stake in Virgin Atlantic.

The deal has seen Delta take a 49% stake in Richard Branson’s transatlantic carrier from Singapore Airlines, alongside a joint venture between Virgin and Delta, and a revised brand licence with the Virgin Group.