Biopharmaceutical giant AbbVie Inc., represented by Kirkland & Ellis, has struck a $63 billion deal to acquire Irish pharmaceutical firm Allergan, with a legal team led by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

While Kirkland has handled litigation work for AbbVie, this is the first time Kirkland has advised the client in a major transaction. Kirkland’s corporate partners on the deal include Eric Schiele, Jonathan Davis and Carlo Zenkner. Kirkland recruited Schiele and Davis from Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 2018 and 2016, respectively, while adding Zenkner, who was a Sullivan & Cromwell associate, in 2017.