Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the financial services sector for Q1 2023 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett achieved the top position by value by advising on $10.4 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume by advising on 15 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was among the only two advisers with double-digit deal volume in Q1 2023. Interestingly, it was also among the only two advisers that managed to surpass $10 billion mark in total deal value during the quarter and missed the top position in terms of value by a whisker.”

Kirkland & Ellis occupied the second spot in terms of value by advising on $10.3 billion worth of deals, followed by  Debevoise & Plimpton with $8.7 billion. Vinson & Elkins and Potter Anderson & Corroon jointly occupied the fourth position in value terms by advising on $7 billion worth of deals each.

Meanwhile, Alston & Bird occupied the second position in terms of volume with 12 deals, followed by White & Case with nine deals, CMS with eight deals, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett with seven deals.