Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis have emerged as the leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the retail sector by value and volume respectively during 2023, according to GlobalData’s latest league table. 

The leading data and analytics company, which is the parent of Retail Insight Network, ranked advisers by the value and volume of M&A deals on which they advised. 

According to its financial deals database, Latham & Watkins topped the chart in terms of deal value, advising on transactions worth $12.1bn during the period. 

In terms of volume, Kirkland & Ellis occupied the top spot with a total of 22 deals. 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz secured the second position by value, advising on deals amounting to $10.7bn.  

They were followed by Baker McKenzie with $9.1bn, White & Case at $8.2bn and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton with $5.2bn.  

In terms of deal volume, CMS came in second with 20 deals, with Baker McKenzie third with 13. White & Case and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin were jointly in next place with nine each. 

GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said: "Although the number of deals advised by Latham & Watkins remained the same in 2022 and 2023, there was a significant jump in the value of these deals. Resultantly, it went ahead from occupying the 40th position by value in 2022 to top the chart by this metric in 2023. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by volume in 2022 and continued to lead by volume in 2023 as well.” 

GlobalData’s league tables are based on the real-time tracking of thousands of company websites, advisory firm websites and other reliable sources available on the secondary domain. A dedicated team of analysts monitors all these sources to gather in-depth details for each deal, including adviser names. 

To further ensure the robustness to the data, the company also seeks submissions of deals from leading advisers.