Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the retail sector during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2023 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 data and analytics company reveals that Latham & Watkins achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $12.1 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 16 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was among the only two advisers with double-digit deal volume during Q1-Q3 2023. It was the top adviser by volume in Q1-Q3 2022 and managed to retain its leadership position by this metric in Q1-Q3 2023 as well.

“Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins registered a significant jump in the total value of deals advised by it during Q1-Q3 2023 compared to Q1-Q3 2022. In fact, it was among the only two advisers that managed to surpass $10 billion in total deal value during Q1-Q3 2023.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $10.7 billion worth of deals, followed by Baker McKenzie with $8.9 billion, White & Case with $5.8 billion, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton with $5.2 billion.

Meanwhile, CMS occupied the second position in terms of volume with 13 deals, followed by Baker McKenzie with eight deals, White & Case with six deals, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett with six deals.