Instructions of the week - 18.07.2002

City firm Denton Wilde Sapte has won the most impressive mandate this week as part of a consortium putting together the first pan-European public private partnership (PPP).

The consortium - led by PricewaterhouseCoopers - has been appointed by the European Commission to refine the business plan for Galileo, a worldwide satellite navigation system which should be ready from 2008.

The work will involve detailed planning for the proposed PPP and provide the basis for its implementation.

City law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse has won through a 'stringent selection process' to gain the instruction to advise Malaysian oil and gas multinational PETRONAS, a Fortune 500 corporation, on all aspects of the launch of both its new superbike and the Team Foggy PETRONAS World Superbike team.

Team Foggy Racing, owned by four-time world superbike champion Carl Fogarty, is represented by Addleshaw Booth & Co.

Two new property finance clients for City firm Nicholson Graham & Jones: Real Estate Capital, a conduit vehicle established and serviced by NM Rothschild & Sons and funded by Merrill Lynch; and Royal Bank of Scotland International, which has already used the firm to advise a syndicate of six UK and German banks led by RBSI on a 74 million loan facility to Carnwood Holdings to buy a property.

Mercer Human Resource Consulting is a new client for Herbert Smith, and the City firm has acted on Mercer's acquisition of a 25-year lease for a landmark office scheme at St Katherine's Estate in London as its new headquarters.

CMS Cameron McKenna acted for developer Taylor Woodrow.

City firm Lewis Silkin has been selected by Bristol City Council to advise on a major regeneration project - the Upper Horfield Estate in north Bristol.

London firm Olswang has completed its first deal for Busy Bees Group, advising on its acquisition of Kindercare Group, the largest independent nursery provider in north-west England, advised by Keoghs.

The combined group will be the second largest childcare provider in England, with nearly 4,000 places.

The Manchester office of Hill Dickinson has picked up its first instruction from Newcastle United football club, which usually instructs DLA.

Partner Mike Morrison - who specialises in sports law and contract negotiation - acted for the club on the arbitration of its dispute with French defender Olivier Bernard, which went before the FA Premier League tribunal.

Mr Bernard had sought to leave the club during his contract.

Following the arbitration, he agreed to sign a new contract.

Exeter firm Michelmores has beaten off competition from other south-west firms to land Exeter University as a new client.

The work will include acquisitions and disposals, litigation, funding schemes, human resources and intellectual property.