Most suspenseful deal: London firm Payne Hicks Beach advised the Raymond Chandler estate on the sale of the world-wide intellectual property rights in the literary and dramatic works of the American detective novelist for an undisclosed sum. London firm Olswang advised the buyer, a subsidiary of Chorion.


Fastest deal on four legs: The London office of national firm Pinsent Masons acted for Risk Capital Partners, the investment boutique owned by entrepreneur Luke Johnson, on its acquisition of greyhound tracks operator GRA for £50 million. City firms Memery Crystal, Lawrence Graham and Clifford Chance acted for the vendor Wembley.



Electronic deal: South-east firm Thomas Eggar advised Graphite Capital on property issues arising out of the sale of Maplin Electronics to Montagu Private Equity for £244 million. Consumer electronics retailer Maplin has 90 stores across the UK. City firm Linklaters advised Graphite Capital on the corporate aspects, while national firm Eversheds acted for Montagu.



Bucket and spade deal: Exeter firm Stephens & Scown advised the sellers and management on the buy-out of The Generations Group, parent company of Weststar Holidays, the west-country holiday park operator. Weststar owns four-star, family-oriented freehold holiday parks in Cornwall and Dorset. City firm Travers Smith advised Phoenix Equity Partners, which backed the buyout. National firm Addleshaw Goddard acted for finance provider Anglo Irish Bank.



Biggest deal: The Milton Keynes office of Howes Percival advised the sellers of marketing agency Big Communications on its acquisition by The Mission Marketing Group for an undisclosed sum. Clients of Leicester-based Big Communications include household names such as Virgin Cola, Alliance & Leicester and Morphy Richards. Regional firm Osborne Clarke acted for the purchaser.



Best managed deal: London firm Campbell Hooper advised stockbroker Walker Crips Weddle Beck on its acquisition of G&E Investment Services, parent company of the London York group, in a deal worth up to £4 million. London York provides a range of investment, fund management and pension advisory and management services to clients across north and east Yorkshire. Bradford and Leeds firm Gordons acted for G&E.