Allen & Overy and White & Case were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the Middle East & African region in 2023 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Allen & Overy achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $12.3 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, White & Case led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 17 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Allen & Overy was the only adviser to surpass the $10 billion mark in total deal value in 2023. It registered a significant jump in the total value of deals advised in 2023 compared to 2022 and resultantly went ahead from occupying the 17th position by value in 2022 to top the chart in 2023. Of the 13 deals advised by Allen & Overy during 2023, six were billion-dollar deals*.

“Meanwhile, White & Case, which was the top adviser by volume in 2022, also managed to retain its leadership position by this metric in 2023 as well. It is noteworthy that White & Case and Allen & Overy were the only two advisers with double-digit deal volume in 2023. Apart from leading by value, Allen & Overy also occupied the second spot by volume. Interestingly, White & Case, apart from leading by volume, also occupied the second position by value in 2023.”

White & Case occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $7.7 billion worth of deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with $4.9 billion, Arthur Cox with $3.6 billion and Fangda Partners with $3.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Allen & Overy occupied the second position in terms of volume with 13 deals, followed by Baker McKenzie with nine deals, AZB & Partners with seven deals and Herzog Fox & Neeman with six deals.