DEALS OF THE WEEK 15.02.2001Tastiest deal: Reed Smith Warner Cranston acted for McDonald's on its acquisition of a 33% stake in upmarket sandwich retailer Pret A Manger, said to be worth 26 million.

DLA advised Pret.Most sparkling deal: Ashurst Morris Crisp is advising Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, on a $16 billion proposal to take public company De Beers private.

Debswana is party to a consortium which includes Central Holdings (the Oppenheimer family holding company), advised by Maitland & Co and Freshfields, and Anglo American, advised by Linklaters, which is in talks with De Beers about going private.

Speediest deal: Macfarlanes represented Ford Motor Company's newly created racin division, the Premier Performance, on its hiring of Formula One legend Niki Lauda as chief executive officer.

The division links Jaguar Racing, engine-makers and tuning specialists Cosworth and Pi electronics.

Austrian firm Schuppisch Sporn Winischhoffer acted for Niki Lauda.Luvviest deal: Rosenblatt, based in London, acted for Weitzenhoffer Theatres on its 3.4 million acquisition of the Vaudeville Theatre in London from Vaudeville Enterprises, which was advised by Theodore Goddard.

Most accommodating deal: Clifford Chance acted for Nomura International's principal finance group on the 255 million purchase of Harrogate-based four-star hotel company Principal Hotels, advised by Allen & Overy.

US firm McDermott Will & Emery acted for the management and Linklaters for the Royal Bank of Scotland, which provided debt facilities.Healthiest deal: Surrey firm Hart Brown advised publisher Marshall Cavendish on the launch of Feelgood magazine, which aims to raise money for the National Health Service.

The selling hospital retains 40 pence of the 1 cover price.

London firm Whittingdales acted for editor Dr Elizabeth Wilkinson, a practising NHS doctor and eye specialist, who also conceived the idea.Most enigmatic deal: US firm Jones Day Reavis & Pogue advised Enigma Holidays and Peter Dyer, the founder of leading ski tour operator Crystal Holidays, on their purchase of upmarket ski holiday company Esprit Holidays for an undisclosed sum.

DLA represented backers Barclays Ventures, while Surrey firm Stevens & Bolton acted for Esprit.