INSTRUCTIONS OF THE WEEK 27.06.2002

Two firms which have been selected to carry out government-funded research projects kick off this week's instructions.

London property firm Forsters is providing the planning law input into a five-strong consortium, which has been commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to research how local communities should be involved in decision-making in the revised planning system.

Last year's planning green paper proposed that public participation in planning should be increased and improved.

Along a similar theme, City firm SJ Berwin and development and planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners have been appointed by the ODPM to review the operation of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

The study will examine all aspects of permitted development rights, whereby planning permission is automatically granted for particular categories of development.

Hammond Suddards Edge has picked up leading lingerie company Premoda Group as a new client, and has acted for it on the acquisition of the branded lingerie division of Charnos - advised by Browne Jacobson - for an undisclosed sum.

East Anglia-based Mills & Reeve has completed its first corporate and property deal for Tarmac Southern, a new client which instructed the firm after partner David Brock joined Mills from Herbert Smith.

It acted on the acquisition of two quarry businesses from SITA, advised by Osborne Clarke.

Mills & Reeve has now established a minerals and waste team in response to demand from clients such as Tarmac.

Better news for Herbert Smith is that it has a new US client, Micromuse, an IT company based in San Francisco and listed on NASDAQ.

It is advising on a 43 million recommended cash offer for Riversoft, Micromuse's first significant UK acquisition.

The London office of US firm Morrison & Foerster has closed deals for two new clients to its debt practice.

It acted for motoring company Lex Service in a private placement of $75 million senior debt, as well as Dutch surveying company Fugro on its first entry into the US private placement market.

It sold a four-tranche deal comprising $120 million to US investors and 20 million to European investors.

Plans to increase its share of the UK market has made French customer relationship management company Coheris a new client for midlands law firm Browne Jacobson.

It acted for Coheris on the acquisition of Information Catalysts, advised by Shadbolt & Co.

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has named its first legal panel for property work out of 25 applicants: City firm Masons is the only non-Yorkshire practice, joining Eversheds, Hammond Suddards Edge, Pinsent Curtis Biddle, Walker Morris, and niche planning firm Wilbraham & Co.

Hammonds was previously the main adviser.