More than 330 attendees at the event in London on Wednesday night (10 April) saw the Magic Circle firm triumph.

A&O was recognised for its work on three deals this year: the Greek PSI, which won debt and equity-linked deal of the year; the Seat Pagine Gialle restructure, and private equity firm Providence’s acquisition of HSE24 from APE.

Linklaters also had a successful night, taking home three Team of the Year trophies for its restructuring, equity and project finance groups.

Linklaters partner Lachlan Burn was also honoured with IFLR’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bank of England executive director Andy Haldane won the night’s other individual award, for services to regulatory reform.

In his acceptance speech, Halden described the UK’s financial regulatory framework as being potentially another example of a locked-in technology, and he stressed the time had never been better to transform it.

Freshfields scored the awards for M&A Team of the Year and Private Equity Team of the Year.

Clifford Chance came away with the inaugural Financial Regulation Team of the Year Award, which recognises outstanding regulatory advice and services offered to local and foreign financial institutions and firms that take a lead role on policy input and reforms.