29.01.2004

Most on-track deal: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised Arriva Trains and Eversheds acted for the Strategic Rail Authority on the agreement for Arriva Trains Wales to operate the new 15-year Wales and Border franchise.

Bristol firm Osborne Clarke acted for the outgoing franchise operator, Cardiff Railway Company.

Most virgin deal: Altrincham firm Neil Myerson acted for fashion underwear company Virginwear on its lease for new office and warehouse space at Trafford Park in Manchester.

Addleshaw Goddard acted for the landlord, BWI.

Most tuned-in deal: The Liverpool office of Mace & Jones acted for Absolute Radio UK on its 3.1 million acquisition of local commercial radio station Juice FM, advised by Mincoffs.

Best hole-punched deal: The Liverpool office of Brabners Chaffe Street acted for office products supplier H Jenkinson on its acquisition of Hertfordshire-based Marina Office Supplies and sister company Dacorum Office Equipment - its first venture outside the region.

Harrow, Middlesex firm Kings Solicitors acted for Marina.

Most agricultural deal: Birmingham's Wragge & Co acted for the management in its buy-out of Spaldings from Dutch company Netagco, advised by East Anglian firm Mills & Reeve.

Lincoln-based Spaldings, which has a turnover of 19 million, is a leading wholesaler of agricultural and grass-care machinery parts and accessories.

Nottingham-based Browne Jacobsen and Addleshaw Goddard acted for the respective funders, National Westminster Bank and 3i.

Tastiest deal: Pinsents acted for food company Cargill on its acquisition of The Duckworth Group, the UK's largest independent flavour company, which was advised by Manchester firm Hague Lambert.

Oiliest deal: City firm Herbert Smith advised BP on the sale of its 2% stake in the equity share capital of PetroChina Company, which was effected through an accelerated 'bookbuilt' placing on public markets worth HK$13 billion (1 billion).

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for Goldman Sachs, which arranged the placing.

Most desirable deal: London firm Clintons acted for Desire Petroleum on its admission to the Alternative Investment Market, which raised around 5 million.

Field Fisher Waterhouse acted for Seymour Pierce, the nominated adviser and broker.

Best constructed deal: Stockport firm Gorvins acted for the Rowlinson Group on its sale for an undisclosed sum of three builders merchants to Grafton Group, advised by Bristol firm Lyons Davidson.