Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top M&A legal advisers by value and volume in the financial services sector for Q1 2022, finds GlobalData

05 May 2022
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis were the top M&A legal advisers by value and volume in the financial services sector for Q1 2022, finds GlobalData

Posted in Business Fundamentals

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis have secured the top spots by value and volume, respectively, in the financial services sector in Q1 2022, according to the latest Legal Advisers League Table by GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company's Financial Deals Database reveals that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett achieved the top ranking by value by advising on $25.2 billion worth of M&A deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led by volume, having advised on a total of 15 deals.

According to GlobalData's report, 'Global and Financial Services M&A Report Legal Adviser League Tables Q1 2022', a total of 926 M&A deals worth $96.4 billion were announced in the sector during Q1 2022.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Simpson Thacher & Bartlett was the only adviser that managed to surpass the $20 billion mark in total value, thereby outpacing its peers by a significant margin. Moreover, there was strong competition between Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett for the top position by volume, with the latter missing it by a whisker and instead occupying the second position. Kirkland & Ellis, apart from leading by volume, also occupied the seventh position by value."

An analysis of GlobalData's Financial Deals Database reveals other high rankers by value included Sullivan & Cromwell, with deals worth $15.3 billion; Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with $14.4 billion; Torys, with $13.8 billion; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, with $12.5 billion. By volume, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett occupied the second position, with 14 deals; followed by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with 14 deals; AZB & Partners, with 10 deals; and Latham & Watkins with 10 deals.