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-Q3 2026.
Financial Advisers
Morgan Stanley and Rothschild & Co top M&A financial advisers in Europe during Q1-Q3 2026
Morgan Stanley and Rothschild & Co were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in Europe during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) 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 the leading position in terms of value by advising on $235.2 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Rothschild & Co led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 80 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Rothschild & Co 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 despite a year-on-year (YoY) drop in the total number of deals advised by it. However, it faced close competition from PwC, which occupied the second spot by volume with 79 deals.
“Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley was the only adviser with more than $200 billion in total value of deals advised. Subsequently, it registered more than a three-fold jump YoY in the total value of deals advised and its ranking improved from second to the top position. During Q1-Q3 2026, Morgan Stanley advised on 37 billion-dollar deals* that also included six mega deals valued more than $10 billion."
Barclays occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $132.2 billion worth of deals, followed by Goldman Sachs with $116.8 billion, JPMorgan with $106.2 billion and Evercore with $103.7 billion.
Meanwhile, Houlihan Lokey occupied the third position in terms of volume with 77 deals, followed by Ernst & Young with 70 deals and KPMG with 69 deals.
*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion
Legal Advisers
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case top M&A legal advisers in Europe during Q1-Q3 2026
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in Europe during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) 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 Kirkland & Ellis achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $98.3 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, White & Case led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 132 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “There was more than a three-fold jump YoY in the total value of deals advised by Kirkland & Ellis. Resultantly, its ranking by value jumped from sixth to the top spot. During Q1-Q3 2026, Kirkland & Ellis advised on seven billion-dollar deals* that also included two mega deals valued more than $10 billion. The involvement in these big-ticket deals helped Kirkland & Ellis register a massive jump in terms of value. Apart from leading by value, it also held the 10th position by volume during Q1-Q3 2026.
“Meanwhile, White & Case’s ranking by volume also improved from second to the top position, even though there was a YoY drop in the total number of deals advised by it. It also occupied the 10th position by value during Q1-Q3 2026.”
Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $96.8 billion worth of deals, followed by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison with $84.4 billion, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with $77.7 billion and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $74.8 billion.
Meanwhile, DLA Piper occupied the second position in terms of volume with 117 deals, followed by Cuatrecasas with 102 deals, CMS with 97 deals and Latham & Watkins with 89 deals.
*Deals valued ≥ $1 billion
