Kirkland & Ellis and A&O Shearman were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the Middle East & Africa region 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 Kirkland & Ellis achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $33.4 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, A&O Shearman led in terms of volume by advising on a total of four deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “A&O Shearman, apart from leading by volume, also occupied second position by value in Q1 2026 with the total value of deals advised by it pegged at $8.2 billion. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis advised on only two deals but managed to top the value chart due to one very high-value deal ($33.4 billion deal for the acquisition of AES by consortium of acquirers).

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer occupied the third position in terms of value, by advising on $6.2 billion worth of deals, followed by Meitar Law Offices with $5.9 billion and Cravath Swaine & Moore with $4.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie and CMS jointly occupied the second position in terms of volume with four deals each, followed by Meitar Law Offices with three deals and White & Case with three deals.