Instructions of the week - 05.09.2002

Two new instructions for City firm Charles Russell this week.

It has picked up Nederlandse Spoorwegen - Netherlands Railways - for which it has just acted on a new alliance with facilities management group Serco.

They have established joint ventures to bid for various UK passenger rail franchises.

Masons advised Serco.

In addition, it has acted for new client Techmarine International on its listing on the Alternative Investment Market.

Specialist sports and media law firm Couchman Harrington Associates has won a major competitive tender to advise Nationwide Building Society on all of its football sponsorships and related television requirements, replacing Hammond Suddards Edge.

The society has a huge sponsorship portfolio, including the England team, FA Cup and Football League.

Manchester-based Halliwell Landau has won a competitive tender to act for InteliCoat Technologies Engineered Films across Europe.

Carlisle firm Burnetts has been chosen to act for The Black Country Partnership of Learning on a pathfinder private finance initiative (PFI).

The 15-partner firm will advise a consortium of educational institutions and local authorities in the West Midlands on the formation of a limited company to bid for delivery of the government's new 'Learn Direct' programme and the appointment as the University for Industry in the region.

Chester Properties is a new client for City firm Lewis Silkin, for which it acted on a 16 million deal to buy the Packhorse shopping centre in Huddersfield in a joint venture with Cargill Financial Markets.

Peel, the seller, was advised in-house on the property work and by Travers Smith Braithwaite on tax.

Nicholson Graham & Jones acted for debt funder HVB.

City firm Beachcroft Wansbroughs has won a pitch to act for a consortium of six NHS trusts on the procurement of the Thames Valley Electronic Patient Record PFI project.

The firm has also been appointed by Worcestershire County Council to act on the local e-government strategy project that aims to improve resident and business access to public services.

West country-based Bevan Ashford has won four PFI tenders in quick succession.

The firm will act for Herefordshire Council on the 17 million reconditioning of Whitecross High School, North Glamorgan NHS Trust on its new 25 million hospital, Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust on the 25 million extension to an acute hospital, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on the 17 million refurbishment of part of the Northern General Hospital.

Newcastle College has renewed its four-year contract with local firm Watson Burton.

The Web-based joint venture between City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner and accountants Deloitte & Touche, beprofessional, has picked up two new clients.

The service, which helps small businesses comply with employment and tax legislation, has been taken up by business venturing specialists I-GRO and Essex-based accountants Raffingers.

It has also been shortlisted at the National Business Awards for the corporate venturing title.