Slaughter and May and CMS were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in Europe 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 Slaughter and May achieved its leading position by value by advising on $56.6 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, CMS led by volume by advising on a total of 256 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “CMS was the clear winner by volume as it was the only firm to advise on more than 200 deals during Q1–Q3 2022, thereby outpacing its peers by a significant margin. However, it lagged in terms of value and settled for the tenth position by this metric.

“Meanwhile, Slaughter and May, which advised on around one-eighth of the number of deals advised by CMS, managed to top by value due to its involvement in high-value transactions. It advised on 11 billion-dollar deals* during Q1–Q3 2022.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Allen & Overy occupied the second position by value, by advising on $56.1 billion worth of deals; followed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, with $54.6 billion; Latham & Watkins, with $53.4 billion; and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier Avocats, with $50 billion.

Meanwhile, Allen & Overy occupied the second position in terms of volume, with 131 deals; followed by White & Case, with 121 deals; Baker McKenzie, with 118 deals; and Latham & Watkins, with 103 deals.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Europe M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1-Q3 2022’, a total of 8,691 M&A deals worth $511.6 billion were announced in the region during Q1–Q3 2022.  

* Valued more than or equal to $1 billion.