Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2023 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 reveals that Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $16.7 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 19 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Most of the top 10 advisers by volume registered a decline in the total number of deals advised by them during Q1-Q3 2023 compared to Q1-Q3 2022. However, Kirkland & Ellis managed to retain its leadership position by volume during Q1-Q3 2023, despite experiencing a decline in the number of deals.

“Meanwhile, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz registered a significant jump in the total value of deals advised by it during Q1-Q3 2023 compared to Q1-Q3 2022. It also saw its ranking by value improve significantly. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz managed to advise on three billion-dollar deals* during Q1-Q3 2023.”

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $12.7 billion worth of deals, followed by Allen & Overy with $11.4 billion, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with $10.9 billion, and Cravath Swaine & Moore with $10.7 billion.

Meanwhile, CMS occupied the second position in terms of volume with 19 deals, followed by Winston & Strawn with 13 deals, White & Case with 12 deals, and Baker McKenzie with 12 deals.

*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion