Linklaters, one of the elite “magic circle” law firms, has won a coveted role advising the UK government on future trade negotiations with the US.

British politicians are looking for help to navigate a new the maze of regulatory issues created by Brexit and the £6m contract, awarded by the Department for International Trade, a copy of which has been seen by Financial News, specifies that Linklaters will provide the DIT with “advice, support and drafting in relation to the possible negotiation of a future UK-US Free Trade Agreement”.