Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector for 2021 by value and volume, respectively, according to GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company notes that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett advised on 20 deals worth $38.5 billion, while Kirkland & Ellis advised on 83 deals worth $25.6 billion. A total 4,064 M&A deals were announced in the sector during year 2021, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Consumer M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables 2021’, deal value for the consumer sector increased by 38.8% from $270.8 billion during 2020 to $376 billion in during 2021.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was the only firm to advise on more than 70 deals during 2021, thereby outpacing its peers by a large margin in terms of volume. Of these deals, seven were valued more than or equal to $1 billion—helping the firm secure the third spot by value.

“Due to its involvement in a higher number of big-ticket deals, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett managed to top the list by value. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett advised on 12 deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion.”

Latham & Watkins occupied second position in terms of value, with 52 deals worth $31.9 billion; followed by Kirkland & Ellis. Weil Gotshal & Manges occupied the fourth position by value, with 34 deals worth $23.7 billion; followed by Alston & Bird, with 13 deals worth $22.4 billion.

Latham & Watkins also occupied the second position in terms of volume, followed by CMS, with 48 deals worth $2.1 billion; Allen & Overy, with 46 deals worth $3.7 billion; and Jones Day, with 44 deals worth $4.5 billion.