DEALS OF THE WEEK 05.07.2001

Druggiest deal: Herbert Smith has advised fine chemicals business Johnson Mathey on its recommended 147 million cash offer for the entire share capital of Meconic - a producer and supplier of controlled drugs.

Travers Smith Braithwaite and Scottish firm McGrigor Donald acted for Meconic, the only licensed manufacturer of heroin and cocaine in the UK.

Most smashing deal: Memery Crystal acted for Britannic Asset Management on its 1.5 million sponsorship deal with the Lawn Tennis Association, advised by Bird & Bird.

Britannic is now the title sponsor for the annual pre-Wimbledon ladies' tennis tournament in Eastbourne.

Most European deal: Linklaters represented Morgan Stanley in its role as arranger of a 905 million medium-term note programme for BRE Bank, the first of its kind to be established by a Polish investment bank.

The firm also advised dealers Commerzbank, Credit Suisse First Boston, HSBC Bank, Merrill Lynch and UBS Warburg on English, Dutch and Polish law.

Lovells acted for BRE Bank on English and Polish law issues and Trenite Van Doorne advised on Dutch law.Most fashionable deal: City firm Fladgate Fielder acted for Trident fashions on the acquisition of menswear chain Ciro Citterio from its administrators for an undisclosed sum.

The sellers were administrators Kroll Buchler Phillips, advised by DLA.Most radiant deal: Manchester firm Halliwell Landau acted for NUKEM Nuclear on its 24 million acquisition of AEA Technology's nuclear engineering activity - including 600 staff at sites such as Dounreay and Windscale.

Eversheds' Leeds office acted for AEA.Brainiest deal: CMS Cameron McKenna acted for KS Biomedix Holdings (KSB) in its 42 million acquisition and 16.3 million placing of Canadian biopharmaceutical company Avicenna Medica.

One of its products is undergoing trials to treat inoperable brain tumours.

Stikeman Elliott acted for KSB in Canada, while US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges represented sponsor NM Rothschild & Sons and broker Panmure.Best covered deal: Ince & Co advised Royal & Sun Alliance (RSA) on its acquisition of the affinity schemes business of the insolvent Independent Insurance Company, in a complex deal with its liquidators and the Policyholders Protection Board.

About 400,000 policyholders throughout the UK are involved.

Herbert Smith advised both the liquidators and the Policyholders Protection Board.