Most Herculean deal: Gouldens has advised Pillar Property in the innovative conversion, from a limited partnership into a Jersey-based institutional trust, of its retail park joint venture with the Equitable Life Assurance Society, called Hercules and valued at more than 550 million.

Denton Wilde Sapte advised the Equitable.

Most 'bootiful' deal: Eversheds is acting for turkey magnate Bernard Matthews' family and Bernard Matthews Holdings on the 230 million takeover of the shares held by the public in Bernard Matthews plc.

Slaughter and May acted for Bernard Matthews plc and Allen & Overy acted for lender HSBC.

Most questionable deal: Withers has advised The Television Corporation on its 25 million acquisition of Mentorn Group, the makers of TV programmes including 'Question Time' and 'Robot Wars'.

Mentorn was advised by Paisner & Co.

Most gaseous deal: Macfarlanes advised Westdeutsche Landesbank on the $80 million financing deal to supply piping and equipment for one of the biggest gas pipeline projects to be undertaken in Oman in recent years.

Clifford Chance advised project contractors Dodsal & Co.

Most assured deal: City firm Speechly Bircham is acting for the Scottish Life Assurance Company on its demutualisation.

Scottish Life's long-term insurance business will be transferred to fellow mutual, The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, for approximately 1.1 billion.

Herbert Smith advised Royal London.

Scrappiest deal: Wedlake Bell acted for AMG Industries in its acquisition of the business and assets of scrap metal merchants Shardal Castings.

Birmingham firm Lee Crowder acted for Shardal and Theodore Goddard acted for funder Burdale Financial.

Most on-track deal: Nabarro Nathanson acted for Govia, a joint venture between transport operator The Go-Ahead Group and Via GTI, which has been selected as the preferred bidder to take over from train operator Connex South Central, which has lost its franchise.

Subject to satisfactory undertakings to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, Govia will run the south central train franchise for 20 years with planned investment of up to 1.5 billion.