02.10.2003

Scariest deal: London media firm The Simkins Partnership advised The Really Useful Group (RUG) in its lead role in the $80 million production of the British film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit 'Phantom of the Opera', one of the biggest budget independent films ever produced in the UK.

The cast list advising financiers included Richards Butler (acting for Dexia Banque Internationale Luxembourg and Bank Leumi), Hammonds (acting for Bank of Scotland), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Denton Wilde Sapte (both advising Scion Films), Olswang (acting for Universal) and US firm O'Melveny and Myers (advising Warner Bros).

Most fashionable deal: The Manchester office of Mace & Jones acted for Vivienne Westwood franchisee Hervia on the opening of a designer clothing store in Liverpool.

The 1,800 sq ft store will be Ms Westwood's third outside London.

London firm KSB Law acted for landlord Cavern Walks.

Most shopaholic deal: London property firm Kanter Jules advised REIT Asset Management on the 310 million sale of six shopping centres across the UK.

Eversheds acted for the purchasers, Catalyst Capital.

Most adventurous deal: London firm Nellen advised travel publishers Wanderlust Publications on a 50% investment in the company by publishers Mark Ellingham, advised by City firm Abrahams Dresden, and John Brown, advised by non-lawyers.

Most energetic deal: City firm Osborne Clark acted for npower on its 7 million sale to Europe's third biggest Internet service provider, Tiscali SpA, advised by London firm Lawrence Stephens.

Most virtual deal: Eversheds and Teesside firm The Endeavour Partnership acted for the majority and minority shareholders respectively of Leeds-based Internet company Firstnet Services - Minorplanet and Dominic Marrocco - in its 4.3m sale of to GX Networks, represented by Addleshaw Goddard.