Deloitte corporate finance partner Andy Westbrook last night fought off competition from one colleague and two peers from Barclays Private Equity to scoop the coveted title of Dealmaker of the Year. A close contender many years before, Westbrook was described as a “relentless and determined dealmaker, easy to work with, trustworthy and very hands on.” It was his second win of the night after he clinched the Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year award. His deals over the past year have included the sale of ATP Travel and Endless’ buyout of Crown Paints. The Dealmaker of the Year award was sponsored by Roland Dransfield PR and the shortlist comprised Paul Lupton of Deloitte and Steve O’Hare and John Walker of Barclays Private Equity. Picking up the award on behalf of Westbrook, Lupton, Deloitte's head of corporate finance, said Westbrook won because: "I taught him everything he knows."

Winner KPMG

Jonathan Boyers and his team at KPMG have coveted this award for years. Over the past year they’ve sold the Original Factory Shop and even learned to get to grips with Sharia law when they brought Arab investors into British Water Additives.

Shortlist Deloitte, KPMG, Clearwater Corporate Finance

Sponsored by KBC Business Capital

Winner DLA Piper

The North West is full of legal talent. Recently DLA Piper acted for Endless, one of the funds still investing money in businesses, in its acquisition of Crown Paints.

Shortlist Hammonds, Halliwells, Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper

Sponsored by WH Ireland

Winner Barclays Ventures

There’s always a tendency for voters in these awards to back private equity teams that have made sharp exits. But they’ve also been backing the businesses in their portfolio and investing. Barclays Ventures’ deals included supporting Howarth Air Technology in making an acquisition and backing a buyout at JBM in Staffordshire.

Shortlist Barclays Ventures, Barclays Private Equity, ECI, ISIS Private Equity

Sponsored by AON

Winner KBC Business Capital

The shortlist included last year’s ill-fated winner, Landsbanki - Peter Jones and David Lomax operated under the flag of Iceland and have supported many businesses in the region in that time. But there are a couple of new guys in town, too. KBC's contribution included a deal to provide a £15m funding line to a management buyout team at Multipart.

Shortlist Barclays Commercial Finance, KBC Business Capital, Landsbanki

Sponsored by QC Legal

Winner Deloitte

This is the award for the backroom teams that make sure that banks don’t lend to the wrong people and that the businesses are in good shape. Richard Bell’s team has acted for Bodycote, done the due diligence for the banks on Peninsula’s expansion and notably with The Co-operative Group on its audacious acquisition of Somerfield.

Shortlist Deloitte, BDO Stoy Hayward, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton

Sponsored by Centric Commercial Finance

Winner Yorkshire Bank

This is the award for the banks that are truly open for business and ready to back deals. Yorkshire Bank has made incredible strides over the past year, backing buyouts in the £5m to £15m deal market since the onset of the credit crunch.

Shortlist Lloyds TSB, Yorkshire Bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland

Sponsored by Gorvins Solicitors

Winner Alliance Fund Managers

This award is designed to recognise the contribution of those government-backed enterprise funds. The market in Liverpool has been set alight by the work of Mark Fuller and his team in investing in businesses and drawing a decent return.

Shortlist Alliance Fund Managers, which runs the Merseyside Special Investment Fund; Enterprise Ventures, which runs several funds, including Rising Stars; YFM, which runs the North West Business Investment Scheme

Sponsored by Northwest Regional Development Agency

Winner Optare

It’s been a rough year on the public markets. This award is designed to find the deal that has demonstrated bravery and ambition in the present climate. Darwen, designer, developer and manufacturer of public transport vehicles to domestic and international markets, floated on AIM in February 2008 and in June 2008 acquired Leeds-based rival Optare Group in a £15.95m reverse takeover.

Shortlist Optare, Enegi Oil, Panceltica

Sponsored by CRS Limited

Winner Andy Westbrook, Deloitte

Clinching this award for the second year in a row, Westbrook has had a great run working with Endless on Crown Paints and with LDC on the sale of ATP Travel

Shortlist Paul Lupton, Deloitte; Andy Westbrook, Deloitte; Aziz ul Haq, Deloitte; Jonathan Boyers, KPMG

Sponsored by Burdale Financial

Winner Neil Shepherd, DLA Piper

These lawyers have strong personal followings in the region. Even when they change jobs. Shepherd is a heavyweight lawyer working alongside the big hitters of private equity.

Shortlist Neil Shepherd, DLA Piper; Ben Clare, Addleshaw Goddard; Gregg Davidson, Hammonds, now with Pinsent Masons.

Sponsored by The Co-operative Bank

Winner Steve O’Hare, Barclays Private Equity

This award is not just about who has done the most deals. It is also a popularity contest and takes into account the soft skills of negotiation and whether the voters think he’s done good deals. O’Hare led the team on Barclays when it invested in the Original Factory Shop, which it sold in the past year. He’s also bought into ATP Travel.

Shortlist Steve O’Hare, Barclays Private Equity; John Walker, Barclays Private Equity; Warwick Ley, Endless; David Ewing, ECI; Andy Gregory, ISIS

Sponsored by Corpfin

Winner Mark Blower, Lloyds TSB

This is the award for the bankers that have earned the respect of their peers for continuing to complete deals through a difficult year. Recent deals completed by Lloyds TSB include acting as lead arranger supporting Barclays Private Equity in the secondary buyout of ATP International and joint lead arranger in the the acquisition of Aberdeen-based offshore crane engineering and mechanical handling specialist Energy Cranes International by Close Brothers Private Equity.

Shortlist Dave Rimmer, Barclays; Mark Blower, Lloyds TSB; Noel Stubley, Lloyds TSB; Peter Smith, Yorkshire Bank; Roddy Kilpatrick, Yorkshire Bank

Sponsored by MC2