Deals of the week 26.07.2001

Most ornamental deal: Birmingham-based Wragge & Co advised Royal Worcester & Spode on its 6.1 million acquisition of glassware producer Caithness Glass from Royal Doulton & Co, represented by Addleshaw Booth & Co.Friendliest deal: Lovells acted for the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society on its 248 million acquisition of the Royal National Pension Fund for Nurses, advised by Herbert Smith.

Subsequently, it is advising Liverpool Victoria on the proposed purchase of financial service provider Bishopscourt Financial Holdings and some of its subsidiaries - which trade as Membership Services Direct.

Bishopscourt is represented by Clyde & Co.Most newsworthy deal: Harbottle & Lewis advised on the start-up of information provider and news bulletins company Digital News Network.

The deal was a joint venture between GMG Radio Holdings, represented by Davenport Lyons, and Chrysalis Holdings, Capital Radio, UBC Media Group and Trafficlink, all advised in-house.Most charitable deal: Field Fisher Waterhouse has advised the General Medical Council in its battle to be recognised as a charity.

More than 70 years of trying were rewarded when the Charity Commission accepted the application.Most educated deal: Cambridge firm Mills & Reeve acted for Cambridge International Examinations as it joined forces with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International (TAGI), an Arab training provider, to launch an Arab version of the Cambridge Skills Award in information technology.

TAGI was represented in-house.Most sporting deals: London firm Teacher Stern Selby advised Watford Leisure, the holding company of Watford Football Club, on the placing and underwriting of its admission to the Alternative Investment Market.

The deal, which is expected to raise 4.7 million, was underwritten by Seymour Pierce, represented by Memery Crystal.

Memery Crystal also represented Seymour Pierce when it advised on the 4.95 million open offer of shares by AIM-listed Millwall Football Club, which was advised by Richards Butler.Most resourceful deal: Bristol firm Burges Salmon has advised Brightstar Environmental on its 25 million project to build a resource recovery plant on five-acres of contaminated land in Derby.

The land was owned by Derby City Council that was advised in-house, with assistance from Wragge & Co.