Kirkland & Ellis was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser in the construction sector during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2026 in terms of both deal value and volume, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Kirkland & Ellis achieved the leading position having advised on 30 deals worth $51.5 billion.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There was a massive year-on-year (YoY) jump in the total value of deals Kirkland & Ellis advised on and significant improvement in its ranking during Q1-Q3 2026. The firm moved from 20th place to the top spot on the value ranking chart, becoming the sole adviser to surpass the $50 billion threshold in total deal value. This commanding lead was primarily driven by its involvement in KONE’s $34 billion acquisition of TK Elevator. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis’ ranking by volume improved from fourth to the top position during this period.”

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $44.7 billion worth of deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with $42.4 billion, Sullivan & Cromwell with $39.4 billion and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas with $35.6 billion

Meanwhile, White & Case occupied the second position in terms of volume with 25 deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with 21 deals, DLA Piper with 21 deals and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison with 17 deals.