Kirkland & Ellis and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the power 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 Kirkland & Ellis achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $42.7 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 11 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher was the only adviser with double-digit deal volume in Q1 2026. Apart from leading by volume, it also held ninth position by value during the quarter.

“Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis advised on relatively lesser number of deals but managed to lead by value due to its involvement in some big-ticket deals. Three of the five deals advised by it during Q1 2026 were billion-dollar deals*, including a mega deal valued more than $10 billion.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $39.5 billion worth of deals, followed by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson with $35.6 billion, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett with $35.3 billion, and Davis Polk & Wardwell with $33.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with eight deals, followed by CMS with eight deals, A&O Shearman with six deals, and Kirkland & Ellis with five deals.

*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion