Toy story: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised toy retailer Hamleys on a franchising deal that will allow it to open up to 20 stores in India. The ­franchise will be run and operated by a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, India’s largest private sector company. Reliance was advised by Indian law firm AZB & Partners.

Shipping news: Magic circle firm Linklaters advised specialist floating-platform developer Flex LNG on the development of what is believed to be the world’s first ship designed to liquify natural gas from offshore fields. It will be constructed and commissioned by Samsung Heavy Industries. City firm Clyde & Co advised Samsung.

Holding the fort: Magic circle firm Allen & Overy is advising the Netherlands Ministry of Finance on the acquisition of the Dutch banking and insurance operations of Fortis Group. It also advised Fortis Bank on acquiring the final 33% stake in Artemis Asset Management for £317m. Anglo-Scottish firm Dickson Minto advised Artemis.

Cube root: City firm Travers Smith advised King Sturge Financial Services and private real estate investment company Cube Real Estate on the establishment of the £100m Cubemaker Partnership fund, which will invest in UK commercial property. The principal investor in the fund, Ropemaker Properties, was advised by City firm Nabarro.

Good to talk: City firm Norton Rose advised Vodacom, the South African mobile phone operator, on its $700m (£400m) acquisition of the carrier services and business network solutions subsidiaries of Gateway Telecommunications. Gateway was advised by US firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.

Two’s company: City firm Taylor Wessing advised Amadeus Capital Partners and Wellington Partners on their $18m (£10m) investment in digital media company EnQii, which was advised by US firm Heller Ehrman.

Talent spot: North-west firm Halliwells advised Nasdaq-listed Salary.com, which provides on-demand compensation and talent management, on its $5m (£2.8m) acquisition of UK software company InfoBasis. InfoBasis shareholders were advised by City firm Nabarro and Oxford firm Northwood Reid.

Animal attraction: City firm Trowers & Hamlins advised pet business Bob Martin UK on the acquisition of the pet and animal healthcare business of Seven Seas for an undisclosed sum. National firm Irwin Mitchell advised Seven Seas.