Pop for poppies: South-west firm Wilsons advised charity Help for Heroes, which cares for British soldiers post-conflict, on an agreement with music producer Simon Cowell’s (inset) production company for a share of profits received from the sale of music single Hero. Finalists from ITV show The X Factor recorded a version of Mariah Carey’s song in aid of Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

ABN assets: City firm Macfarlanes advised Goldman Sachs Asset Management on acquiring 20 investments managed by private equity firm AAC Capital Partners from financial services company ABN AMRO, through a consortium. The consortium and ABN AMRO also committed €950m (£800m) to AAC’s investment programme. Dutch law advice was provided by De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, German advice by Nörr Stiefenhofer Lutz, and Scandinavian advice by Gernandt & Danielsson.

Web merger: City firm Lovells advised private equity house Kelso Place Asset Management and its investee company Marshal Holdings, a UK-based email and web content security company, on Marshal’s merger with 8e6 Corp, a US-based web technology company. The new company, Marshal8e6, secured $10m (£6.7m) financing from Updata Partners, which was advised by US firm Cooley Godward & Kronish; 8e6 was advised by US firm Dorsey & Whitney.

Digester deal: Birmingham firm Wragge & Co advised engineering company Greenfinch on its £18m merger with renewable energy developer BIOGEN, to create BiogenGreenfinch. The deal will allow research on new anaerobic digestion plants. Home Counties firm Borneos advised BIOGEN.

Qatar invests: City firm SJ Berwin advised London-based property investment vehicle Chelsfield Partners on the acquisition of a 20% stake in Chelsfield by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). As part of its investment, the QIA gained two seats on the management board of Chelsfield. City firm Simmons and Simmons advised the QIA.

Back to school: City firm Trowers & Hamlins advised the London Borough of Barnet on its primary school investment scheme as part of the £3.55bn government primary school building and refurbishment programme.