Herbert Smith Freehills and AZB & Partners were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers for the Asia-Pacific region during 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 Herbert Smith Freehills achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $27.9 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, AZB & Partners led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 55 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “AZB & Partners was the only firm to have advised on more than 50 deals during 2023. Apart from leading by volume, it also occupied the eighth position by value. Meanwhile, Herbert Smith Freehills was among the only two advisers with more than $20 billion in total deal value during 2023. It advised on five billion-dollar deals*, including a megadeal valued more than $10 billion. Apart from leading value, Herbert Smith Freehills also occupied the seventh position by volume.”

Cravath Swaine & Moore occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $20.5 billion worth of deals, followed by McCarthy Tetrault with $19.6 billion, Ropes & Gray with $16.9 billion and White & Case with $16.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Khaitan & Co occupied the second position in terms of volume with 41 deals, followed by Baker McKenzie with 40 deals, TriLegal with 36 deals and Allen & Overy with 34 deals.

*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion