Deals of the week

Most Teutonic deal: Herbert Smith and Clifford Chance Pnder advised the London Stock Exchange on the English and German law aspects of its merger with the Deutsche Brse, which was advised by Norton Rose and Hengele Mller Weitzel Wirtz.

It is understood that Slaughter and May, Hengele's 'best friend' partner, was conflicted out of the deal.

The merged exchanges will be created via a new UK holding company, iX-international Exchanges, which will enter into a joint venture with Nasdaq.Booziest deal: Dibb Lupton Alsop advised the Pub Estate Company on its 100 million acquisition of 361 pubs from Scottish & Newcastle, represented by Linklaters.Healthiest deal: City firm Fladgate Fielder advised the Medical Defence Union, the UK's premier medical defence organisation, on its landmark alliance with Zurich Insurance Company.

The alliance takes the form of a joint venture company.

Freshfields acted for Zurich.Most forward deal: City firm Forsters acted for the two founders of Forward, a leading customer relationship marketing organisation, on their 17 million buy-out of the company, which has made its name on the Tesco Clubcard.

Neil Mendoza and William Sieghart, who already owned 50% of Forward, have increased their stake and enfranchised other members of the management team.

SJ Berwin represented Meglomedia, which sold its stake for 8.3 million, while Lovells acted for Barclays, which provided the finance.Quickest deal: Ashurst Morris Crisp and US firm Debevoise & Plimpton are advising Atlantic Telecom Group on its acquisition of First Telecom Group for 520 million of Atlantic shares.

The terms of the deal were agreed and offer document posted less than three weeks after Ashurts was instructed to begin negotiations.

Slaughter and May represented First Telecom shareholders, while the company itself was advised by Simmons & Simmons in the UK, Ginesti Paley & Associs in France and Andersen Luther in Germany.Dirtiest deal: Nicholson Graham & Jones acted for London Waste on the 9.7 million sale of its subsidiary, Polkacrest Group, to Sita Wastecare, advised by Berrymans Lace Mawer.

Polkacrest runs a dry waste collection and disposal business.