Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the financial services sector during the first half (H1) of 2024 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database has revealed that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $46.5 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 33 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Not only were Kirkland & Ellis and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz top advisers by volume and value but also remained much ahead of their peers in respective metrics. Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by volume in H1 2023 and also managed to retain its leadership position by this metric in H1 2024 as well. Meanwhile, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz saw its ranking by value jump from 13^th position in H1 2023 to the top spot in H1 2024.”

Cravath Swaine & Moore occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $38.6 billion worth of deals, followed by Sullivan & Cromwell with $36.6 billion, Debevoise & Plimpton with $28.7 billion, and Kirkland & Ellis with $26.3 billion.

Meanwhile, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom occupied the second position in terms of volume with 17 deals, followed by Alston & Bird with 17 deals, Luse Gorman PC with 15 deals, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher with 10 deals.