Hogan Lovells and Baker McKenzie were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector during the first half (H1) of 2026 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 Financial Deals Database, the leading intelligence and productivity platform revealed that Hogan Lovells achieved the top position in terms of value by advising on $50 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 11 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Baker McKenzie saw its ranking by volume improve from third position in H1 2025 to the top position in H1 2026, despite a marginal drop in the total number of deals advised by it.

“Meanwhile, Hogan Lovells, which led by value in H1 2026, was not even among the top 10 by this metric in H1 2025. Involvement in $44.8 billion deal for the merger of Unilever’s Foods Business with McCormick played a pivotal role in Hogan Lovells securing the top spot by value. It also held the eighth position by volume during H1 2026.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Sullivan & Cromwell occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $47.1 billion worth of deals, followed by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson with $46.2 billion, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz with $45.2 billion, while Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Clifford Chance jointly held the fifth position, with each advising on deals worth $44.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Ropes & Gray occupied the second position in terms of volume with 10 deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with 10 deals, Kirkland & Ellis with 10 deals, and Greenberg Traurig with eight deals.