With the global business community still reeling over the European Commission’s surprise decision to order Apple to pay £11bn in back taxes and interest in Ireland, Freshfields has emerged as the firm that will rise to the task of defending Apple against the high-profile order. While Freshfields has as yet declined to comment on the mandate, industry publication Legal Week reports that Brussels competition partner Andreas von Bonin will be part of the team representing Apple in its appeal. Freshfields has a history with Apple, having represented the consumer tech giant in its unsuccessful patent infringement claim against Samsung in 2012.