Most towering deal: City firm Clifford Chance has advised the Jumeirah Group on the creation of a £600 million luxury hotel on the riverside at Southwark in London. Jumeirah has signed an agreement with the Beetham Organization, advised by City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, to develop a 52-storey glass tower as a hotel, which is expected to be open in 2011.

Most exchanged deal: The London office of US firm Dechert advised ETF Securities, the pioneer of exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), on its simultaneous launch of 29 separate ETCs in the UK, all of which will be listed on the London Stock Exchange. ETCs are new investment tools that allow investors to gain exposure to commodity prices without trading futures or taking physical delivery. Dutch firm Stibbe and the Jersey office of Mourant du Feu & Jeune also advised ETF Securities.


Tastiest deal: National firm Pinsent Masons advised private equity restaurant and retail investor Risk Capital Partners on its acquisition of Patisserie Valerie, the London-based patisserie chain, and a large minority stake in Seafood Holdings, the independent fresh fish and seafood distributor. Both deals were for undisclosed sums. Sussex firm Adams & Remers advised the shareholders of Patisserie Valerie, while UK firm Dundas & Wilson acted for Seafood Holdings.


Cheesiest deal: City firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert advised First Milk, the UK's largest dairy farmers' co-operative, on the £62 million acquisition from Dairy Crest of its private-label cheese business and assets. Clifford Chance advised Dairy Crest, while Dundas & Wilson acted for finance provider Bank of Scotland.


Most swinging deal: City firm Charles Russell acted for the Flodrive Group and its joint venture partners on the acquisition of hotel and pub businesses operated from 250 properties by London & Edinburgh Swallow Group (LESG). The acquisition of 45 hotels and 205 pubs includes the Carnoustie Golf Hotel, the venue for the 2007 Open Championship. City firm Lawrence Graham acted for Ernst & Young, the administrators of LESG.


Hottest deal: City firm Taylor Wessing advised Climate Exchange, the greenhouse gas emissions trading company, on its acquisition of the 60% of Chicago Climate Exchange it did not already own for an initial £29 million, with deferred consideration of up to £12 million.


Most constructive deal: City firm Speechly Bircham acted for the shareholders of Kent-based Denne Construction on its sale to JB Leadbitter & Co for an undisclosed sum. Magic circle firm Allen & Overy advised the buyer, a subsidiary of Dutch international construction group Heijmans.