Deals of the week 05.04.2002

Most penal deal: Berwin Leighton Paisner acted for the Home Office and Prison Service on a deal with Annes Gate Property, jointly owned by Bouygues, Ecovert and HSBC, and advised by Norton Rose, to build and operate a 311 million London headquarters building.

Allen & Overy advised financiers AMBAC.

Punchiest deal: Halliwell Landau advised Online Sports & Leisure on its 2.8 million acquisition of a 22% interest in boxing promoter Frank Warren's Sports Network, advised by Nicholson Graham & Jones.

Most eventful deal: Surrey firm Mundays acted for Portfern on its acquisition of The Ultimate Event Company from Availeon, represented by Hammonds Suddards Edge, for an undisclosed sum.

Most liquid deal: Newbury firm Charles Lucas & Marshall acted for Valley Taverns in a 500,000 deal to refinance South Wales pub chain SA Brain & Co, represented in-house.

Most buoyant deal: Heathrow-based firm Curtis Davis Garrard acted for Norwegian shipbuilders Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder over the delivery of the 'World' cruise liner to its owners Residensea, advised by Sinclair Roche & Temperley.

The unique cruise ship allows people to buy one of the 110 apartments or 88 guest suites on board for between $2.2 million (1.5 million) and $7.5 million (5.3 million).

Booziest deal: Ashurst Morris Crisp acted for a consortium including private equity provider Cinven and Enterprise Inns - advised by CMS Cameron McKenna - on its 2 billion acquisition of the Unique and Voyager pub chain from Japanese Bank Nomura, represented by Clifford Chance.

Macfarlanes acted for Nomura's management.

Ballsiest deal: The London office of US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges represented Bear Stearns in a structured securitisation involving the issue of 30 million privately placed notes by Everton Investments, a subsidiary of Everton Football Club, advised by DLA.

Most hospitable deal: Memery Crystal acted for gaming group Wembley on the sale of its hospitality business Keith Prowse for 5.5 million to a Northern Ventures-backed management team, represented by Nabarro Nathanson.

Prickliest deal: Fieldgate Fisher acted for the Orb Group in its 600 million acquisition of the Thistle Hotel Group, represented by Clifford Chance.

It could become the hotel industry's biggest-ever securitisation, with Morgan Stanley - advised by Denton Wilde Sapte - refinancing the loan to Orb by securitising the 37 hotels' revenues.

Smallest deal: Surrey firm Shadbolt & Co acted for biotech company Microscience on a 25.5 million third-round fund raising.

Investment was provided by Merlin Biosciences, represented by KLegal, and Advent Venture, JP Morgan and Apax, all advised by SJ Berwin.