Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the technology, media, and telecom sector for Q1-Q3 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 $220.2 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume by advising on a total of 186 deals.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Technology, Media & Telecom M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1-Q3 2022’, a total of 8,480 M&A deals worth $739.3 billion were announced in the sector during Q1-Q3 2022. 

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although Kirkland & Ellis managed to lead by volume it faced strong competition from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which was shy of just two deals from occupying the top position by this metric.

“In contrast, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, which led in terms of value, outpaced its peers by a significant margin by this metric. It was the only firm to surpass $200 billion in total deal value.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Latham & Watkins occupied the third position in terms of volume, with 132 deals, followed by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with 124 deals, and CMS, with 102 deals.

Meanwhile, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz occupied the second position by value, by advising on $184.4 billion worth of deals, followed by  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, with $161 billion, Sullivan & Cromwell, with $146 billion, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, with $124.6 billion.