Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom (Lou Kling, Howard Ellin, Phillip Adams) acted for News Corporation on its $6.6bn (£4.2bn) acquisition of a 34 per cent stake in Hughes Electronics, which is being split from GM. News Corporation was also advised by Hogan & Hartson on tax and by Harris Wiltshire & Grannis on satellite regulatory issues. Jenner & Block represented GM with additional advice from Kirkland & Ellis and Richards Layton & Finger. Weil Gotshal & Manges led for Hughes, aided by Latham & Watkins, Wiley Rein & Fielding and Jones Day.

Norton Rose (Iain Wright) acted for data technology company InTechnology on its €28.8m (£19.7m) acquisition of Allasso, the distribution division of Articon Integralis. Jones Day Gouldens advised Articon.

Ashurst Morris Crisp (Bruce Hanton) represented Fitness First on its £204m management buyout by Moray, a company set up by private equity house Cinven. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised Moray, while Macfarlanes acted for the management team.

Berwin Leighton Paisner (Peter Martin, Marcus Jamson) advised Barclays Bank on financing the recommended £62.63m management buyout by James Reed & Partners of Reed Executive. Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw acted for James Reed, while Reed Executive was represented by Clyde & Co.

Macfarlanes (Nicola Richards) acted for Incisive Media on its £35.2m acquisition of the Risk Waters Group. The deal was financed by an increased debt facility arranged by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and a placing and open offer underwritten by Investec, totalling £38.5m. Richards Butler advised the vendors, with DLA representing RBS. Jones Day Gouldens acted for Investec.

Linklaters (Tom Wethered) advised Amadeus Global Travel Distribution on its acquisition of a 16.667 per cent stake in Opodo and its entry into a joint venture with nine European airlines for €50m (£34.2m). Denton Wilde Sapte represented Opodo and its shareholders, which include Alitalia, British Airways and Lufthansa.