Kirkland & Ellis was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser in the consumer sector during the first half (H1) of 2024 by both value and volume, 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.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Kirkland & Ellis achieved the leading position by advising on 17 deals of worth $3.9 billion.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was the only adviser to hit the double-digit deal volume during H1 2024. Interestingly, even during H1 2023, not only was Kirkland & Ellis the top adviser by volume, but it was also the only adviser with double-digit deal volume.

“Moreover, it showcased major improvement in terms of value as well as its ranking in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023. Kirkland & Ellis, which was at the 13th position by value in H1 2023, went ahead to lead the chart in H1 2024.”

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $3.3 billion worth of deals, followed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with $3 billion, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius with $3 billion and Latham & Watkins with $2.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Winston & Strawn occupied the second position in terms of volume with nine deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with eight deals, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with seven deals and Jones Day with seven deals.