DLA Piper and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the construction 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 DLA Piper achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $10.5 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of nine deals. 

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Both DLA Piper and Kirkland & Ellis registered improvement in value and volume of deals advised by them, respectively, in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. As a result, each saw a significant jump in their respective rankings. Kirkland & Ellis’s ranking in terms of volume rose from 31^st in Q1 2025 to top spot in Q1 2026, while DLA Piper’s improved its ranking from 33^rd to top the chart by value, driven by its involvement in a mega deal valued more than $10 billion.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Clifford Chance occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $10.5 billion worth of deals, followed by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz with $10.5 billion, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with $6.1 billion, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison with $5.1 billion.

Meanwhile, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison occupied the second position in terms of volume with eight deals, followed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with seven deals, Weil, Gotshal & Manges with six deals, and Latham & Watkins with six deals.