US giant White & Case has bagged a lead role advising the Republic of Panama on the redevelopment of the Howard Air Force Base next to the Panama Canal.

The $700m (£357m) project covers 2,750 acres of land and is expected to create around 20,000 jobs. The scheme, known as the Howard Project, will redevelop a 1.7 mile airstrip built by the US but largely abandoned since its forces left the country eight years ago.