Whizziest deal: City firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for new European low-cost airline Whizz Air - which will be based in Budapest, Hungary and Katowice, Poland - on securing financial backing from Indigo Partners, an aviation-focused private equity investment vehicle advised by the London office of US firm Latham & Watkins.

Most futuristic deal: London firm Bristows advised Future Publishing in appointing Marketforce as the UK distributor of its 90-plus special interest magazines. City firm DLA acted for Marketforce.


Best counselled deal: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse acted for the Bar Council on its relocation from three offices to a single premises on High Holborn. Beachcroft Wansbroughs represented the unnamed landlord.


Eggiest deal: Clifford Chance acted for Egg Banking on its £500 million-plus securitisation of present and future credit card receivables. US/UK firm Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw advised Bank of America Securities and Credit Suisse First Boston as joint lead arrangers.


Best organised deal: City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite advised the selling shareholders on the £245 million sale of London exhibition venue and event organiser Earls Court & Olympia Holdings. Property investment company St James Capital, advised by US firm Coudert Brothers, has a 75% stake in the purchasing vehicle and Nomura International the remaining 25%. It also provided debt financing. Birmingham-based Wragge & Co advised Nomura and the purchaser.


Best served deal: Manchester firm Pannone & Partners advised the purchaser of Nuneaton-based Firstserve Group in relation to the secondary management buyout of its management team, with Venture Finance replacing 3i funds. Firstserve supplies workshop consumables and also accessories for leisure boats and caravans through its Arleigh division. Northern firm Cobbetts Lee Crowder acted for Venture and Wragge & Co for 3i, while Heatons represented the management team.


Most limited deal: Bristol firm TLT advised property consultancy firm Alder King on its conversion to a limited liability partnership. TLT itself is not an LLP.