Law firm Demarest Advogados has been named the top merger and acquisition (M&A) legal adviser in the South and Central America region, based on the value of M&A deals on which it advised in Q1 2022. This is according to leading data and analytics company GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database, which reveals that the company advised on $2.6 billion worth of deals.

Furthermore, Bronstein, Zilberberg, Chueiri & Potenza Advogados (Bronstein Zilberberg) has also been held in equal recognition by volume, as it advised on the highest number of deals in the quarter, which GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals was 20 deals.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Global and South & Central America M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1 2022’, reveals that there was a total of 273 M&A deals announced in the region during Q1 2022, which were collectively worth $20.3 billion.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Deals on which Demarest Advogados advised represent over 10% of the total value for the quarter. These deals included Rede D’Or Sao Luiz’s acquisition of Sul America for $2.6 billion and GLA Brasil’s acquisition of 7% stake in Sky Servicos de Banda Larga from Globo Comunicacao e Participacoes (Deal value not disclosed).

“Meanwhile, Bronstein Zilberberg stole the show, when it came to deal volume. It was the only firm to reach double digits, which placed it firmly ahead of nearest competitor Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice, with five deals. However, Bronstein Zilberberg had to settle for ninth position by deal value due to its involvement in relatively low-value transactions. The average size of deals advised by Demarest Advogados stood at $1.3 billion, while it was $20 million for Bronstein Zilberberg.”

Analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals other high rankers by value included Sidley Austin, with deals worth $2.1 billion; followed by Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice, with $1.1 billion; and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, with $674 million.

By volume, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice came in second, with five deals; followed by Veirano Advogados, with five deals; and Barbosa Mussnich & Aragao Advogados, with five deals.

Positions for companies achieving the same number of deals in the ‘advisers by volume’ ranking were determined by their total deal value as a secondary consideration.