Most tuneful deal: City firm Speechly Bircham acted for Howard de Walden Estates on the acquisition of London chamber music venue Wigmore Hall for an undisclosed sum, and the restructuring of the Wigmore Hall Trust's interest in it. Howard de Walden, already the freeholder, has now acquired Prudential's former head leasehold interests, as part of the tripartite arrangements, subject to a long lease of the hall to the Trust and to various retail and office tenancies of 36-40 Wigmore Street. London firm Harbottle & Lewis advised the Wigmore Trust and City firm Lovells advised Prudential.

Most secure deal: City firm Herbert Smith is advising the international defence and security technology company, QinetiQ, on its proposed initial public offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange. The company is currently majority-owned by the UK's Secretary of State for Defence and the Carlyle Group private equity house. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising Credit Suisse (Europe), JP Morgan Cazenove and Merrill Lynch International, the joint global co-ordinators for the proposed flotation. Simmons & Simmons is advising the Ministry of Defence and Clifford Chance is advising the Carlyle Group.


Most insightful deal: London firm Forsters acted on Insight Investment's £34.2 million purchase of the Bristol headquarters building of law firm Osborne Clarke. The Temple Quay Fund - advised by City firm Macfarlanes - sold the building at Temple Quay, which is let on a 20-year term to the partners of Osborne Clarke.


Most liquid deal: City firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised the Thresher Group on its purchase of 200 Unwins off-licence stores from administrators KPMG for an undisclosed sum. National firm Halliwells advised Threshers on the property due diligence. UK/US firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary acted for KPMG.


Most luxurious deal: Bristol firm Burges Salmon advised Luxury Family Hotels, a company that operates a number of luxury hotels that specifically target the family market such as Woolley Grange, in connection with a recommended cash offer by hotel group Von Essen. London firm Goodman Derrick acted on behalf of the purchaser.


Most synergistic deal: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised French-owned multi-national recruitment company Synergie Group on its acquisition of UK recruitment and training specialist Acorn, the largest independent recruitment agency in Wales, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will enable Synergie to enter the UK market for the first time. Cardiff firm M&A Solicitors advised Acorn.