Best constructed deal: The Manchester office of Ricksons advised building and civil engineering group Cumbrian Industrials on the sale of the £40 million turnover business to Hanson Aggregates for an undisclosed sum. The Leeds office of national firm Pinsents advised Hanson.


Most liquid deal: London-based Simons Muirhead & Burton advised Ken Todd and his wife, former Baywatch actress Lisa Vanderpump, on the sale of their West End bars group for a sum estimated at more than £15 million. The group includes Soho bars the Village, Mai Tai, and Shadow Lounge. City firm Rosenblatt advised the purchaser, Jeremy Gordeno.



Most caring deal: City firm Speechly Bircham acted for CareTech Community Services on its partial buyout of Barclays Private Equity's investment in the company. The transaction also included the £28 million sale and leaseback of a portfolio of 25 care homes to the Quercus Healthcare Fund. National firm Pinsents acted for Barclays, while the Edinburgh office of Maclay Murray & Spens advised Quercus.



Wrinkliest deal: City firm Herbert Smith advised Roger De Haan on the sale of Saga - the travel, finance and media group for people aged 50 or over - for £1.35 billion to a management buyout team backed by private equity firm Charterhouse. Anglo-Scottish firm Dickson Minto acted for Charterhouse, while City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite advised the management team. City firm Withers acted for Mr De Haan's family trusts.



Best recovered deal: The London office of US/UK firm Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw advised nominated adviser and broker Teather & Greenwood on the admission of insolvency and corporate recovery specialist Begbies Traynor to the Alternative Investment Market. Manchester and London firm Halliwells acted for the company, which was valued at £26 million as a result of the transaction.