The London-listed tobacco giant has outlined plans for a merger with Reynolds American, the owner of Camel cigarettes, by purchasing the remaining 57% of the US company it does not already own.

The HSF team is being led out of London by the firm’s chair and senior partner James Palmer, financial institutions head Alex Kay, tax head Isaac ‎Zailer and corporate partner Gillian Fairfield. BAT is also receiving legal counsel from its in-house team, led by head of M&A Craig Harris and attorney Bob Casey.