Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and CMS were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the automotive 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 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz achieved its leading position by value by advising on $10.8 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, CMS led by volume by advising on a total of 14 deals.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Automotive M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1-Q3 2022’, a total of 730 M&A deals worth $40.2 billion were announced in the sector during Q1–Q3 2022.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “CMS was the only firm to advise on a double-digit deal volume during Q1–Q3 2022. However, it lagged in terms of value and did not feature in the top 10 list by this metric due to its involvement in low-value transactions.

“Meanwhile, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, despite advising on a fewer number of deals, managed to top by value due to its involvement in big-ticket deals. In fact, it was the only adviser to surpass $10 billion in deal value. The average size of deals advised by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz stood at $5.4 billion compared to $248.3 million for CMS.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison occupied the second position by value, by advising on $9.5 billion worth of deals; followed by Latham & Watkins, with $7.5 billion; Mayer Brown, with $3.8 billion, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, with $3.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis occupied the second position in terms of volume, with eight deals; followed by Baker McKenzie, with six deals; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, with six deals; and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, with five deals.