GlobalData has announced the latest Financial and Legal Adviser League Tables, in terms of the total value and volume of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals they advised on in Europe during Q1 2026. See the rankings and findings below.
Financial Advisers
Morgan Stanley and KPMG top M&A financial advisers in Europe during Q1 2026
Morgan Stanley and KPMG were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in Europe during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform..
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Morgan Stanley achieved thes leading position in terms of value by advising on $56.3 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, KPMG led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 23 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Both Morgan Stanley and KPMG registered year-on-year (YoY) improvement in the value and volume of deals advised by them in Q1 2026. Resultantly, their ranks by these metrics also improved. The number of deals advised by KPMG increased by 53.3% YoY and its ranking by volume improved from the ninth to the top position.
“Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley registered more than four-fold jump in the total value of deals advised by it, which helped its ranking improve from the fourth position to the top spot. 11 of the 18 deals advised by Morgan Stanley during Q1 2026 were billion-dollar deals* that also include a mega deal valued more than $10 billion. The involvement in these big-ticket deals helped Morgan Stanley register a massive jump in terms of value."
Citi occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $40.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Barclays with $37.3 billion, Lazard with $30.4 billion and Rothschild & Co with $27.6 billion.
Meanwhile, Ernst & Young occupied the second position in terms of volume with 20 deals, followed by Houlihan Lokey with 20 deals, PWC with 20 deals and Rothschild & Co with 19 deals.
*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion
Legal Advisers
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and CMS top M&A legal advisers in Europe during Q1 2026
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and CMS were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in Europe during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Simpson Thacher & Bartlett achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $48.2 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, CMS led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 37 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “CMS was the top adviser by volume in Q1 2025 and retained its leadership in position by this metric in Q1 2026 as well, despite registering a year-on-year (YoY) drop in the number of deals advised.
“Meanwhile, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s ranking by value jumped from the 21st position in Q1 2025 to the top position in 2026. The involvement in $33.4 billion deal for the acquisition of AES by consortium of acquirers played a pivotal role in Simpson Thacher & Bartlett securing the top spot by value in Q1 2026.”
Kirkland & Ellis occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $45.5 billion worth of deals, followed by A&O Shearman with $37.2 billion, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer with $21.6 billion and White & Case with $18 billion.
Meanwhile, White & Case occupied the second position in terms of volume with 32 deals, followed by DLA Piper with 30 deals, A&O Shearman with 27 deals and Latham & Watkins with 22 deals.
