Akerman and White & Case were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the retail sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Akerman achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $450 million worth of deals. Meanwhile, White & Case led in terms of volume by advising on a total of five deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There was an improvement in the total number of deals advised by White & Case in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. Its ranking by deal volume also improved from seventh to the top position. Meanwhile, Akerman, which led by value in Q1 2026, did not feature among the top 10 in Q1 2025.”

Hunton Andrews Kurth occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $450 million worth of deals, followed by Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto jointly occupying the third position with $142.8 million, and Kirkland & Ellis with $100 million.

Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Latham & Watkins jointly occupied the second position in terms of volume with three deals each, followed by Akerman with two deals.