Kirkland & Ellis Dominates M&A Legal Rankings

Kirkland & Ellis has secured the leading position in legal advisory for mergers and acquisitions during the first half of 2026. The firm's performance was exceptional, topping the charts in both the total value and the number of deals handled.

According to data from GlobalData's Financial Deals Database, Kirkland & Ellis advised on 267 transactions. These deals had a combined value of $411.8 billion, significantly outperforming competitors. The firm's impressive volume and value rankings reflect its strong market presence.

In terms of deal value, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison followed in second place with $366.2 billion, and Sullivan & Cromwell secured third with $311.1 billion. Latham & Watkins and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom also made the top five.

Latham & Watkins led in deal volume after Kirkland & Ellis, with 234 transactions. White & Case, DLA Piper, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison rounded out the top five for deal count. Kirkland & Ellis's strong showing was boosted by involvement in 50 billion-dollar deals, including six mega deals exceeding $10 billion.

Analysts noted that Kirkland & Ellis saw substantial growth in both the value and volume of deals advised on in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025, with the value nearly doubling year-over-year. This performance marked an improvement in its ranking by volume from second to first and by value from third to first. GlobalData compiles these rankings through real-time tracking of various sources and submissions from advisory firms.