15.01.2004

Tastiest deal: The City Law Partnership acted for City Centre Restaurants on its 170 million recommended cash and share offer for pizza and pasta chain ASK Central, advised by London firm Howard Kennedy.

Most real deal: City giant Linklaters advised DB Real Estate Investment on two major central London acquisitions worth around 200 million: Lacon House - whose tenants include fellow City law firm Nabarro Nathanson - from Land Securities, advised by Dechert; and 74 St James's Street from Delta Group, represented by Taylor Wessing.

Flightiest deal: National firm Davies Lavery acted for FlightStore, which provides an 'in-flight intranet' through seat-back television systems to allow passengers to transact with the terrestrial world while in flight, on its admission to the Alternative Investment Market.

London firm Memery Crystal acted for Seymour Pierce, the nominated adviser and broker.

Best insured deal: City firm Kendall Freeman acted for HCC Insurance Holdings on its strategic investment in the Illium Insurance Group, the holding company of a new Lloyd's managing agency, advised by Clyde & Co.

Best staffed deal: City firm Speechly Bircham acted for Swedish company Poolia on its acquisition for an undisclosed sum of London-based recruitment consultancy Parker Bridge, advised by Hammonds.

Parker Bridge has a turnover of around 60 million.

Best litigated deal: City firm Trowers & Hamlins acted for OyezStraker Group on the sale of its litigation support and legal information management services subsidiary, Oyez Legal Technologies, to global risk consulting company Kroll, advised by US firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.