Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis have secured the top spots by value and volume in H1 2022, respectively in the latest Legal Advisers League Table by GlobalData, which ranks legal advisers by the value and volume of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals on which they advised.

According to the leading data and analytics company’s Financial Deals Database, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett achieved its leading position by value by advising on $350 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume by advising on a total of 404 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the clear winners, outpacing their peers by a significant margin by value and volume, respectively.

“Simpson Thacher & Bartlett advised on 25 billion-dollar deals*, which also included nine deals valued at more than $10 billion. Against this backdrop, it was the only firm to surpass $300 billion. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis was the only firm to advise on more than 400 deals during H1 2022.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom occupied the second position by value, by advising on $215 billion worth of deals, followed by Sullivan & Cromwell, with $199 billion, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, with $196 billion and Kirkland & Ellis, with $173 billion.

Latham & Watkins occupied the second position by volume by advising on 249 deals, followed by CMS, with 209 deals, Jones Day, with 177 deals, and Goodwin Procter, with 167 deals.

*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion