Clifford Chance (CC) and Weil Gotshal & Manges have taken lead roles on Japanese drinks company Suntory’s offer to buy Orangina Schweppes Group from two high-profile private equity funds, Lion Capital Holdings and the Blackstone Group.

Weil Gotshal is advising Blackstone and Lion Capital, which purchased Orangina from Cadbury in 2006 for $2.1bn (£1.3bn). London office managing partner Mike Francies is leading the firm’s team on the deal.