#United States #Latham & Watkins #Arlington #Kirkland & Ellis #Mergers and Acquisitions

Bloomberg Law Unveils 2025 League Tables for M&A Law Firms

On January 2, 2026, Bloomberg Law released its highly anticipated league tables for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) law firms, with Latham & Watkins seizing the top position as the leading M&A adviser. This announcement comes on the heels of record-breaking global deal activity, which saw transactions surpassing a staggering $4.7 trillion, a remarkable increase of 40% compared to the previous year.

Leading Firms in M&A Advisory

In the published tables, Latham & Watkins emerged victorious, guiding transactions that totaled approximately $787 billion. Following closely were notable competitors such as Kirkland & Ellis, with $743 billion in deals, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz at $621 billion. Other significant players included Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $550 billion and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, which recorded $403 billion in advised transactions.

The data illustrates the competitive nature within the M&A sector, showcasing the firms actively shaping the landscape of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Each firm's performance can be further analyzed in detail through Bloomberg Law's interactive chart feature, allowing for a comparative review of their advisory activities and the overall market trends.

Insights from Bloomberg Law

Cesca Antonelli, editor-in-chief at Bloomberg Industry Group, emphasized that these 2025 league tables serve as a vital snapshot of momentum within the M&A sector. She stated, “The data reflect consistency, access, and execution. These are key factors for anyone trying to understand where real M&A activity is concentrated.”

The release of these rankings by Bloomberg Law is not merely a statistical analysis; it provides a lens through which legal professionals can gauge their standing in a competitive marketplace. The rankings enable firms to benchmark their performance against leading competitors, drawing insights that could help refine their M&A strategies.

A Look Ahead

Analyzing this robust data enables a deeper understanding of emerging trends and patterns in the M&A landscape. As the legal and corporate worlds evolve, having access to comprehensive data becomes essential for practitioners aiming to navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions effectively.

Furthermore, Bloomberg Law’s platform, which integrates authoritative news with market intelligence and analytical tools, remains a trusted resource for firms looking to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing environment. For more information, including the complete list of the top 20 M&A law firms and the interactive chart, Bloomberg Law users can visit the article at this link.

Conclusion

As 2025 progresses, the competitive dynamics among M&A firms are expected to continue intensifying. The latest league tables from Bloomberg Law not only highlight the standout firms of the year but also set the stage for future developments in the M&A field. Legal professionals and firms alike should leverage this data to enhance their strategic approaches and ensure they remain effective players in this vibrant sector.

By keeping an eye on these rankings and the associated trends, legal advisers and corporate entities can unlock new opportunities in the lucrative domain of mergers and acquisitions.