DEALS OF THE WEEK 31.08.2000

Most on-line deal: Fox Williams acted for legal IT company Epoch Software, the creator of Desktop Lawyer, on a private placing and shareholder offer for subscription which raised 5 million.

Gouldens acted for financial adviser Durlacher.

Tastiest deal: Lewis Silkin advised Groupe Chez Gerard on its 2.7 million disposal of London restaurant company Richoux to Madison Coffee, advised by Dechert.

Most productive deal: Berwin Leighton acted for Dutch company Endemol Entertainment on its acquisition of the 50% stake in UK television production company GMG Endemol Productions owned by the Guardian Media Group.

Endemol now owns the whole company, which makes Big Brother, Changing Rooms, Ground Force and Ready Steady Cook and is valued at 55 million.

Lovells represented the Guardian, Field Fisher Waterhouse advised GMG Endemol, while Simmons & Simmons acted for GMG Endemol's management team.

Best-travelled deal: Linklaters acted for lastminute.com on its 59 million acquisition of Dgriftour, France's largest e-travel company, making lastminute.com the largest European-based e-commerce company.

Andersen Legal acted for Dgriftour.

Most numerical deal: Rowe & Maw acted for accountancy firm Baker Tilly on its merger with Fraser Russell to create a 70 million top ten national accountancy practice.

Chelmsford firm Wollastons advised Fraser Russell.

Most buoyant deal: Niche shipping firm Curtis Davis Garrard advised Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, a leading submarine network and marine management company, on contracts with Hyundai Mypo for the construction of two advanced design cable-laying ships and an option for two more, which will make the investment worth $90 million (60 million).

Richards Butler acted for Hyundai.

Most shopaholic deal: Herbert Smith acted for House of Fraser in the pre-let of a 55,000 sq ft site on the north side of London Bridge to develop the City of London's first department store.

The deal is part of an overall development in King William Street by Synaten, advised by Garretts.

Most electric deal: Manchester firm Pannone & Partners represented Prestolite Electric on the UK aspects of the $63 million sale of its US and UK-based switch, industrial battery charger and direct current businesses to Ametek, advised in the UK by CMS Cameron McKenna.