Shearman & Sterling, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson and Allen & Overy (A&O) are among a raft of top firms to have advised on the $23.3bn (£14.9bn) purchase of Virgin Media by US cable giant Liberty Global.

The cash and stock merger, which is subject to regulatory and stockholder approval, would create the world’s largest broadband communications company, covering 25 million customers in 14 countries.