Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Kirkland & Ellis were the top M&A legal advisers by both value and volume in the automotive sector in Q1 2022, respectively, according to the latest Legal Advisers League Table by GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz achieved the top ranking by value by advising on $10.8 billion worth of M&A deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume, having advised on a total of five deals.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Automotive M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1 2022’, a total of 241 M&A deals worth $27.7 billion were announced in the sector during Q1 2022.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although Kirkland & Ellis led by volume, it lagged in terms of value and did not feature in the top 10 list by value 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 high-value transactions. While the average size of deals advised by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz stood at $5.4 billion, it was just $126.4 million for Kirkland & Ellis.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals other high rankers by value included Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, with deals worth $9.5 billion; Latham & Watkins, with $7.1 billion; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, with $3.7 billion; and Mayer Brown, with $3.7 billion. By volume, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher occupied the second position, with four deals; followed by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, with three deals; Jones Day, with three deals; and McDermott Will & Emery with three deals.