Deals of the week

Biggest deal: Norton Rose is advising France Telecom on its 25 billion purchase of Orange from Vodafone Airtouch, advised by Linklaters - the largest ever acquisition by a French company.

Vodafone must sell to get European Commission clearance for its purchase of Mannesmann.

Clifford Chance advised a six-strong banking consortia on the record EUR30billion syndicated loan to France Telecom for the deal.

The firm had less than a week to organise it.Most express deal: Herbert Smith advised Zhejiang Expressway on its overseas listing application to the new UK Listing Authority, one of the first two such listings approved.

Simmons & Simmons represented sponsor Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.Most utilitarian deal: Kent firm Cripps Harries Hall advised Software Resource on its 7 million share sale to IT and communications services group CMG, advised in-house.

The company developed software allowing utility meter readings to be downloaded direct from hand-held recording devices into utilities' computer systems.Quickest deal: Freshfields acted for Scottish Widows on its 700 million purchase of the 79-property Guardian portfolio from Aegon UK.

Aegon took on the portfolio when it bought Guardian Assurance last year.

Believed to be the largest institutional property deal ever, it was exchanged within five working days.

Guardian Assurance was advised by Trowers & Hamlin, which led a team of solicitors from Forsters, Eversheds, Roslyn King, Field Fisher Waterhouse and McGrigor Donald who prepared certificates of title for the relevant properties.