LAW firm Dickinson Dees has negotiated the acquisition of a Midlands convenience store operator for retailer Sainsbury's.

The company won work with Sainsbury's after acting for the Bell family earlier this year when it sold its North-East convenience chain to the supermarket.

It has acted for Sainsbury's in its acquisition of JB Beaumont, which has six stores.

It is the first time Dickinson Dees has acted for Sainsbury's, and it is hoped it will win more work with the supermarket.

The Dickinson Dees team was led by partner Nigel Williams, of the merger and acquisitions team.

Mr Williams, who is based in the Tees Valley, said: "It is gratifying to be instructed to act for Sainsbury's after having worked on the other side of the table to them on a similar deal just a few months ago."

JB Beaumont's annual turnover is £13m and the value of the net assets acquired was £1.2m.

Sainsbury's hopes to increase the turnover in the convenience sector of its business by more than £400m by the end of 2007/2008.

David Thurston, of Sainsbury's, said: "As with the Bells Stores deal, Dickinson Dees played a major part in ensuring the JB Beaumont deal was completed on time and within budget. We are very happy with this."