The firm advised on $83.9bn in transactions, outpacing rivals despite fewer deals, driven by high-value mandates.
Kirkland & Ellis secured the top spot among European M&A legal advisers by deal value in the first half of 2026, advising on transactions worth $83.9bn. The firm’s dominance stemmed from its role in six billion-dollar deals, including two exceeding $10 billion each.
White & Case led by deal volume, handling 75 transactions, up from second place in H1 2025. Paul Weiss ranked second by value at $74bn, followed by Simpson Thacher at $66.5bn and Freshfields at $63.3bn. CMS and DLA Piper followed White & Case in volume, with 68 and 64 deals, respectively.
The rankings reflect a shift in market dynamics, with Kirkland & Ellis leveraging large-scale deals to outpace competitors despite a lower deal count. White & Case’s rise in volume highlights its broader client engagement across mid-market transactions.