Instructions of the week - 09.05.2003

South-coast firm Lester Aldridge has picked up both work and lawyers from SFI Group (formerly Surrey Free Inns) after the company decided to outsource its legal function.

SFI's portfolio includes the Slug and Lettuce, Litten Tree and Bar Med brands.

A three-person team has joined Lester Aldridge, with former head of legal Julia Palmer becoming a partner, and the firm will deal with the SFI Group's licensing and regulatory work.

London firm Olswang has secured a retainer from NatWest Bank for the first time.

Its corporate and property teams acted for NatWest on funding the acquisition on a 2,650m2 development site in south London.

It was a joint pitch by the firm's Reading and London offices - while Olswang is not on NatWest's panel, regional teams at the bank have discretion to instruct non-panel firms in deals worth less than 10 million.

Head of banking Moni Mannings said she hoped it would be the start of a relationship with the bank.

City firm DLA has advised fast-growing debt management firm 1st Credit Holdings for the first time.

It acted on 1st Credit's acquisition of Edward James International.

DLA acted in the past for private equity house Gresham Trust, which raised a 16 million funding package to fund 1st Credit initially.

DLA has also handled its first major transaction for Lex Transfleet - a joint venture between the RAC and Lombard North Central.

It advised on a ten-year fleet management contract with British Airways, advised by Addleshaw Booth & Co.

DLA was appointed to the RAC's legal panel last year.

City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite has received its first 'substantial' property finance instruction from the Isle of Man branch of Royal Bank of Scotland International, acting on funding of the purchase of Ashdown House - an office building in central London occupied by the Department of Transport - which was worth more than 100 million.

Manchester firm Lockett Loveday McMahon has been appointed as property solicitors for Connexions Lancashire, which has a portfolio comprising in excess of 20 centres across Lancashire and several supporting offices.

Connexions Lancashire was formed in April 2002 and has local accountability for Connexions, a government advice service for teenagers.

The social housing team at Portsmouth-based Coffin Mew & Clover has been reappointed legal adviser to Martlet Housing Group, which was formerly known as Chichester District Community Housing Ltd.