Deals of the week - 27.02.2003

Most full house deal: City firm Ashurst Morris Crisp advised Cinven and Candover on its 1.87 billion (1.25 billion) buyout of bingo, casino and on-line gaming company Gala Group.

City giant Clifford Chance advised the sellers, CSFB Private Equity and PPM Ventures, while London firm Joelson Wilson advised the management team and option holders, and handled the licensing aspects.

Linklaters represented the lending banks, Merrill Lynch and CSFB.

Tastiest deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle acted for management vehicle Pinco 1771 in taking private Signature Restaurants, which owns 22 restaurants in London, including The Ivy.

Bristol-based Osborne Clarke acted for Signature, and SJ Berwin for Park Place Columbia, a Bermuda-based company which joined the bidding group after the initial offer.

Lovells acted for debt provider Barclays Bank.

Most buoyant deal: City firm DJ Freeman acted for Shotley Marina Holdings on its purchase of Burnham Marina on the River Crouch in Essex from a subsidiary of First National Finance Corporation, advised by national firm Laytons.

Reading firm Field Seymour Parkes acted for funder Bank of Scotland.

Best constructed deal: City giant Allen & Overy has advised Dutch construction and property development company Heijmans on its purchase of JB Leadbitter & Co, its first acquisition in the UK.

London firm Wedlake Bell acted for the vendor, Robert Rendell, while Swindon firm Clark Holt advised the rest of the management team.

Booziest deal: Nottingham firm Berryman Shacklock acted for Northampton pub group Tom Cobleigh on the sale of 28 tenanted pubs to Daniel Thwaites, advised by Roscoes in Blackburn.

Most odds-on deal: London firm Edwin Coe acted for the independent directors and management of spread betting company Sporting Index Holdings on their 53 million company buy-out.

Clifford Chance acted for backer Duke Street Capital and Newco, and DLA for loan provider Royal Bank of Scotland.

Most metallic deal: City firm Richards Butler represented Brazilian mining company Companhia Vale do Rio Doce on its $18 million (11 million) acquisition of Norwegian ferroalloy production company Elkem Rana, advised by Simmons & Simmons.