Deals of the week 19.07.2001

Sparkiest deal: Lovells acted for National Mutual Life Assurance Society on its demutualisation and transfer of business to General Electric Capital in a deal valued at 570 million.

Herbert Smith represented General Electric.Most net-busting deal: Nottingham firm Freethcartwright advised financial adviser Benson McGarvey in its acquisition by Knightsbridge Holdings, represented by Hammond Suddards Edge, for a potential 16.5 million.

Benson's clients, including Gary Lineker and David Gower, will join Knightsbridge's portfolio, which includes footballer Rio Ferdinand.Most moving deal: Thames Valley firm Pitmans acted for computer company Fujitsu Siemens in its acquisition of 55,000 sq ft of new offices in Bracknell from Regus, advised in-house, for an undisclosed sum.

Most celebrated deal: City firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain acted for the shareholders of production company 10 Alps Broadcasting and event organiser Instant Party on their reverse takeover of marketing group Osprey Communications in a 3 million deal.

Evans Dodd represented Osprey.Most developed deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle advised Close Brothers Investment in the 45 million purchase of 1 New Fetter Lane in London from Delancy Estates, advised by SJ Berwin.

The development is pre-let to US law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.Booziest deal: Slaughter and May acted for Noble House Leisure on its 97 million acquisition of 214 pubs owned by Scottish & Newcastle, advised by Lawrence Graham.

US firm Bryan Cave acted for Hermes Investment Management and its client, BT Pension Scheme, which provided part of the equity to back the deal.

DLA acted on the equity provided by the Bank of Scotland and Linklaters for debt provider, the Royal Bank of Scotland.Most educational deal: Marlow-based Moorcrofts Corporate Law advised the shareholders of learning solutions provider Video Arts on its acquisition of an e-learning business arm of the University of Salford, Learning Pack, represented in-house.

Most PC deal: City firm Silverman Sherliker acted for software firm Tamesis on 2.35 million equity investment by the Baring English Growth Fund and venture capital trusts, advised by Yorkshire firm Keeble Hawson Moorhouse.Table-topping deal: Clyde & Co acted for the Royal Bank of Scotland in the 6 million extension of its sponsorship deal with the Scottish Premier League until 2005.

The league was advised by Glasgow firm Harper Macleod.