Bigger splash: British Swimming, the sport’s national ­governing body, announced a £15m sponsoring partnership with British Gas. In-house teams advised British Gas and British Swimming, while English governing body ASA was separately advised by Leicester firm BHW. Swim Wales was advised by Swansea firm Morgan LaRoche and Scottish Swimming by Corrigall Black Solicitors of Dunoon.

Independent move: City firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has advised Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, on a five-year outsourcing agreement with Independent News and Media. The deal takes effect from 1 April, when Independent News and Media’s two London-based titles, the Independent and Independent on Sunday, move to Associated’s headquarters in Kensington. City firm ­Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Associated on competition and real estate issues, and international firm Mayer Brown advised Independent News and Media.

Fashion buyout: National firm Cobbetts advised Key Capital Partners, a private equity firm, on backing the £3.6m ­management buyout of ­premium street-fashion ­business Sabotage.

Sanctuary bonds: International firm Wragge & Co advised Sanctuary Housing Association on a £200m secured bonds issue. The transaction will contribute to the housing provider's long-term capital plans, which include 1,000 new affordable homes over the next two years. Magic circle firm Allen & Overy advised Barclays Capital.

Car components: Leeds ­specialist firm Carrick Read Insolvency acted on behalf of DPE-Automotive Limited, the Newton Aycliffe-based car parts supplier, in its acquisition of the business of Sonas Automotive, a supplier of assembled car body sheet metal, engine and trim components from administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Jewel acquisition: National firm EMW Picton Howell acted on the completion of the sale of UK fashion jewellery chain Diamonds & Pearls Limited to Diamonds & Pearls 2009 Limited just seven days after instruction. The sale preserves more than 300 jobs and 73 stores.