Instructions of the week - 17.10.2002

The most high-profile instruction this week is for Bristol firm Burges Salmon, which has been named the supplier of legal services to the British team for the 31st America's Cup yachting race.

The firm is advising on sponsorship and employment contracts.

Herbert Smith has picked up top retailer Next as a new client.

It is acting on Next's proposed capital reconstruction, which is being implemented by an introduction of a new listed holding company, Next Group, through a court-approved scheme of arrangement.

Next was introduced by Lazards, its investment bank.

City firm Lovells has acted for Consignia for the first time after winning a competitive tender to advise on a major outsourcing arrangement.

Consignia's facilities management business, Romec, is being outsourced to Haden Business Management, advised by Linklaters, and will be joint owned by the two.

Haden has agreed to provide facilities management to Consignia for seven years, in a deal estimated to be worth 1 billion in total.

London firm Olswang has been acting directly for Scottish Equity Partners for the first time.

It advised the company and Lloyds TSB Development Capital on the fourth round of financing for Cambridge Silicon Radio, a company which produces single-chip radio devices for short-range radios.

The deal is worth $19 million (12 million).

Furniture giant MFI is a new client for Birmingham's Wragge & Co.

Its technology team advised on the introduction of SAP software to MFI's stores, a part of MFI's five-year plan to overhaul its IT systems.

City firm Norton Rose was instructed for the first time by French food and management services provider Sodexho Alliance in the sale of its UK-based subsidiary company, Lockhart Catering Equipment, to Bunzl, advised by Slaughter and May.

Lockhart, which last year turned over 59 million, supplies catering equipment and designs and installs kitchen facilities.

Simmons & Simmons has a new client, Tokyo healthcare developer and manufacturer Terumo Corporation.

The City firm, which was instructed on a recommendation from Terumo's financial adviser Nomura, will advise on Terumo's forthcoming $170 million acquisition of Glasgow-based vascular prostheses manufacturer Vascutek, advised by US firm McDermott Will & Emery.