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 during Q1-Q3 2026.
Financial Advisers
Goldman Sachs and Houlihan Lokey top M&A financial advisers by value and volume during Q1-Q3 2026
Goldman Sachs and Houlihan Lokey have emerged as the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers by value and volume during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2026 in the latest Financial Advisers League Table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Goldman Sachs achieved the top position in the deal value rankings by advising on $687.6 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Houlihan Lokey led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 250 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Goldman Sachs registered 52.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase in the total value of deals advised by it during Q1-Q3 2026 due to its involvement in some big-ticket deals. Resultantly, its ranking by value improved from second to the top spot. During the review period, it advised on 81 billion-dollar deals* that also included 22 mega deals valued more than $10 billion.
“Meanwhile, Houlihan Lokey was the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2025 and managed to retain its leadership position by this metric during Q1-Q3 2026 as well. It was among the only two advisers that managed to advise on more than 200 deals during Q1-Q3 2026.”
Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan occupied the second and third position in both the rankings chart by value as well as volume having advised on 212 deals worth of $659.9 billon, and 165 deals worth of $492.5 billion, respectively.
Meanwhile, Bank of America held the fourth position in terms of value by advising on $315.1 billion worth of deals, followed by Evercore with $278.7 billion.
Goldman Sachs occupied the fourth position in terms of volume by advising on 154 deals followed by Evercore with 133 deals.
*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion
Legal Advisers
Kirkland & Ellis top M&A legal adviser during Q1-Q3 2026
Kirkland & Ellis emerged as the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser by both value and volume during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2026 in the latest Legal Advisers League Table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that Kirkland & Ellis achieved the top position having advised on 410 deals worth $515.7 billion.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2025 and continued to maintain its dominance in volume ranking chart during Q1-Q3 2026 as well. Moreover, its ranking by value improved from third to the top spot.
“While the total number of deals advised by Kirkland & Ellis remained the same during Q1-Q3 2026 compared to Q1-Q3 2025, there was a 25.1% growth in total deal value. During Q1-Q3 2026, it advised on 72 billion-dollar deals* that also included eight mega deals valued more than $10 billion. The involvement in these big-ticket deals helped Kirkland & Ellis register the jump in terms of value and secure the top spot by this metric.”
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $441.3 billion worth of deals followed by Sullivan & Cromwell with $407 billion, Latham & Watkins with $362.4 billion, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $289 billion.
Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume by advising on 375 deals followed by DLA Piper with 219 deals, White & Case with 209 deals, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with 165 deals.s
*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion
