Mining group Xstrata turned to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for its hostile $14.6 billion cash bid for Canadian nickel producer Falconbridge. Xstrata, which already owns a 19.8% stake in Falconbridge, also announced a separate equity placing to pay back part of the acquisition funding debt, raising approximately $1.3 billion. Corporate partner Juliam Makin and finance partner Edward Evans led the Freshfields team, with Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg providing Canadian counsel to Xstrata....