Deals of the week - 02.05.2002

Most gaseous deal: CMS Cameron McKenna is acting for electricity giant National Grid Group on its recommended merger with Lattice Group, advised by Linklaters & Alliance, to create the UK's largest utility with a market capitalisation of 15 billion.

Lattice owns and operates the vast majority of Britain's gas transportation system.

Meanwhile, Oxfordshire firm Brookstreet des Roches acted for National Grid on the 20 million sale of a 1.2 acre island site on Bankside in London to property company Chelsfield, advised by SJ Berwin.

Most studenty deal: Addleshaw Booth & Co acted for Jarvis on the transfer of 2,326 bed spaces in eight separate halls of residence at Nottingham Trent University to Jarvis's university partnership programme under a 33-year lease.

The deal is worth 295 million over its life.

It is the first time a UK university has transferred almost its entire estate to the private sector.

Eversheds acted for the university, while Theodore Goddard advised the funder, Barclays.

Biggest deal: Radcliffes LeBrasseur acted for an undisclosed overseas investor on the 220 million acquisition of 280 Bishopsgate in London, the largest single investment transaction this year.

Nabarro Nathanson acted for Hammerson, the vendor of the building currently being fitted out as the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which itself arranged the syndicate providing funds for the purchase and was advised by Berwin Leighton Paisner.

The deal was completed in four weeks.

Booziest deal: Davenport Lyons acted for the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly, London, on its successful licence application to sell alcohol from 6am during the World Cup.

To date, it is the only bar in the capital to have been granted an early morning licence for every day of the World Cup on the basis that its location allows it to attract supporters from all participating countries.

Most evolutionary deal: Shoosmiths acted for environment science business The Casella Group on a 6 million refinancing and acquisition of environmental consultancy EMC Group, advised by Eversheds.

The Casella Group was established in 1799 as a scientific instrument maker and had Charles Darwin as a customer.

SJ Berwin acted for the institutional investors.