Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector during the first half (H1) 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 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison achieved the top position in terms of value by advising on $109.6 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 81 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The total value of deals advised by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison registered more than a double-fold jump in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025, driven by its involvement in some big-ticket deals. During H1 2026, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison advised on eight billion-dollar deals* that also included three mega deals valued more than $10 billion. Resultantly, its ranking by value increased from fifth position in H1 2025 to the top position in H1 2026. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis’s ranking by volume improved from the second position in H1 2025 to the top position in H1 2026.”

Sullivan & Cromwell occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $98.3 billion worth of deals, followed by Kirkland & Ellis with $91.7 billion, White & Case with $87.5 billion and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with $76.1 billion.

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with 73 deals, followed by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati with 52 deals, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with 30 deals and DLA Piper with 30 deals.

*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion