GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has revealed its league tables for top 10 legal advisers by value and volume in global retail sector for 2020 in its report, ‘Global and Retail M&A Review & Legal Adviser League tables.

According to GlobalData’s M&A report, a total of 1,971 M&A deals were announced in the sector during 2020, marking a 42.5% decrease over the 3,430 deals announced in 2019. The deal value decreased by 46.5% from $308bn in 2019 to $165bn in 2020.

Top Advisers by Value and Volume

Kirkland & Ellis emerged as the top legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the global retail sector for 2020, having advised on 24 deals worth $30.6bn.

GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said: “Kirkland & Ellis was the only firm that managed to advise on more than 20 deals while also surpassing the $30bn mark, whereas its peers failed to even touch $20bn.

“The firm’s involvement in high value transactions helped it to secure the top spot by value, as it managed to advise on six billion-dollar deals worth greater than or equal to $1bn.”

Slaughter and May occupied the second position in GlobalData’s ranking of legal advisers for M&As in the global retail sector by value with three deals worth $19.8bn, followed by Allen & Overy with 14 deals worth $16.4bn and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison with 10 deals worth $16.1bn.

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Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume having advised on 19 deals worth $14.6bn, followed by Davis Polk & Wardwell with 18 deals worth $14.7bn and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with 16 deals worth $14.8bn.

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 ensure further robustness to the data, the company also seeks submissions from leading advisers, through adviser submission forms on GlobalData’s website.