Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the North American region for H1 2022 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 has revealed that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett achieved its leading position by value by advising on $331 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume by advising on a total of 367 deals.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and North America M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables H1 2022’, a total of 7,699 M&A deals, worth $876.5 billion, were announced in the region during H1 2022.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the clear winners, outpacing their peers by a significant margin in their respective categories. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett advised on nine mega deals*, including two deals valued at more than $50 billion, and it was the only firm to surpass $300 billion in total deal value. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis was the only firm to advise on more than 300 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 $210 billion worth of deals, followed by  Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, with $194.7 billion; Kirkland & Ellis, with $150.7 billion; and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, with $143.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume, with 166 deals; followed by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with 123 deals; Jones Day, with 118 deals; and Goodwin Procter, with 114 deals.

* Valued more than or equal to $10 billion.