Davis Polk & Wardwell and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector during the first half (H1) of 2025 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, which ranks legal advisers by the value and volume of M&A deals on which they advised.

Based on its Deals Database, the leading data and analytics company has revealed that Davis Polk & Wardwell achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $7.3 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 10 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Interestingly, Davis Polk & Wardwell did not even feature among the top 10 by value in H1 2024 but managed to lead by this metric in H1 2025. Both the deals advised by Davis Polk & Wardwell during H1 2025 were billion-dollar deals* and involvement in these big-ticket deals helped it occupy the top position by value.

“Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by volume in H1 2024 and managed to retain its leadership position by this metric in H1 2025 as well.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Paul Hastings occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $5.3 billion worth of deals, followed by Cravath Swaine & Moore with $4.9 billion, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with $4.2 billion, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $3.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with nine deals, followed by A&O Shearman with seven deals, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with six deals, and Jones Day with six deals.

*Deal valued more than or equal to $1 billion