Deals of the week - 17.04.2003

Most underground deal: CMS Cameron McKenna advised the Metronet consortium on the transfer from London Underground of two of the three infrastructure companies, made up of different lines, completing the final stage of the underground public private partnership, after the first company was transferred at the turn of the year (see [2003] Gazette, 16 January, 8).

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for London Underground and Ashurst Morris Crisp for the funders - except EIB, which was represented by Denton Wilde Sapte.

Surrey firm Shadbolt & Co acted for Trans4m, a joint venture which will carry out all of the required upgrade work to the two sections.

Best tackled deal: North-west firm Brabners Chaffe Street acted for the National Football Museum on a 2 million investment from the North West Development Agency, advised by Eversheds, which will allow the museum to acquire a new 60-year lease of its premises at the Preston North End football ground and open its doors free to the public.

Best accommodated deal: Birmingham-based Wragge & Co acted for Insignia Richard Ellis, a leading property and financial services group, on the relocation of its UK headquarters in London.

Taylor Wessing advised Grand Metropolitan, its new landlord.

Most digital deal: City firm Stephenson Harwood advised commercial portal developer and application service provider Digitalbrain on a 10 million public/ private partnership with Newcastle City Council, represented by City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, to develop a Web portal - www.newcastle.com - over a five-year period and make Newcastle Europe's first 'digital city'.

The portal will provide businesses with a range of interactive electronic services and information, including a virtual labour market.

Most silvery deal: City firm Kemp Little acted for Silvertech International, which supplies process control and high-integrity safety system solutions, on the sale of its Sheffield factory to the management, advised by Leeds firm Bury & Walkers.

Most secure deal: Cambridge firm Hewitson Becke & Shaw acted for the sellers of Internet security company NetConnect to Netstore, advised by City firm Norton Rose.

Most flowery deal: Yorkshire firm Keeble Hawson acted for Malaysia's Bumiputra-Commerce Bank on an 18 million credit facility with fashion house Laura Ashley, advised in-house.

Keeble partner Sharon Needle is one of the few solicitors who is also qualified in Malaysia.