Bristol-headquartered international law firm Osborne Clarke is quietly celebrating one of its largest and highest-profile deals – Apple’s $3bn (£1.8bn) acquisition of headphone and music streaming company Beats Electronics. 
Tech specialists at Osborne Clarke’s Bristol office teamed up with colleagues in the firm’s California-based team to advise Beats. The office is believed to handle all European and Middle East work for Beats, best known for its upscale headphones but also an important player in the US music streaming industry. 
However, it is understood that Apple has put a stop on any public announcements by any of the firms involved in the takeover – so Osborne Clarke cannot comment on its involvement in the highest-profile deal of the year so far.
Beats, launched by rap star-turned-entrepreneur Dr Dre, is a long-standing client of Osborne Clarke as a result of work carried out from its Silicon Valley office. The firm has been described as the 'go-to' adviser for the music technology company on a range of issues since general counsel Rafferty Jackson joined in March last year.
Osborne Clarke worked with US law firm Munger Tolles & Olson on the deal.
In an interview in a Californian magazine, Rafferty said Osborne Clarke was “the only one firm I've hired flat out”.
Meanwhile, Osborne Clarke has opened its Amsterdam office with a digital business focused team. The office takes the firm’s international organisation to 18 bases in eight jurisdictions following the launch of the Paris, New York and Brussels offices last year and San Francisco earlier this year.
Michiel Odink joins Osborne Clarke as the managing partner of OC Amsterdam. Previously a partner at Baker McKenzie, he specialises in IP Advisory, Transactions and Litigation, Betting and Gaming and Misleading and Comparative Advertising.
Osborne Clarke International CEO Simon Beswick said: “As well as being a significant international hub, establishing our Amsterdam office gives us the increased ability to provide deep local and international market knowledge to our growing client base and access successful businesses in the Netherlands in the sectors in which we are strong.
“Osborne Clarke is a leading digital business firm and opening in Amsterdam adds substantial weight to our offering as well as further support to our international relationships.
“We intend to grow the office quickly over the coming months and are continuing our recruitment drive in the Amsterdam area.”
