Weil, Gotshal & Manges and CMS were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the European region during the first half (H1) of 2025 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 Deals Database, the leading data and analytics company has revealed that Weil, Gotshal & Manges achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $20.6 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, CMS led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 130 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “CMS was the clear winner by volume, outpacing its peers by a significant margin in H1 2025. It was the only adviser with triple-digit deal volume during the review period. Apart from leading by volume, CMS also held the eighth position by value in H1 2025.

“Meanwhile, Weil, Gotshal & Manges faced close competition from White & Case for the top position by value during H1 2025. It is noteworthy that White & Case was the top adviser by value in H1 2024 and missed the leadership position in H1 2025 by a whisker. While White & Case registered a decline in the total value of deals advised by it during H1 2025 compared to H1 2024, Weil, Gotshal & Manges registered more than a triple-fold increase. Resultantly, Weil, Gotshal & Manges’ ranking by value jumped from 26^th position in H1 2024 to the top position in H1 2025.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that White & Case occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $20.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Kirkland & Ellis with $19.1 billion, A&O Shearman with $17.9 billion, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $16.7 billion.

Meanwhile, White & Case occupied the second position in terms of volume with 65 deals, followed by A&O Shearman with 64 deals, Cuatrecasas with 50 deals, and Baker McKenzie with 37 deals.