Kellanova’s portfolio of brands. Image credit: Kellanova Global Portfolio Image

Kirkland & Ellis was the top M&A legal adviser in the consumer sector during the first nine months of 2024 by both value and volume, analysis of deal data suggests.

According to GlobalData, Just Food’s parent, Kirkland & Ellis topped the charts for the value of deals and volume of transactions.

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An analysis of the data and analytics group’s Deals Database revealed that Kirkland & Ellis advised on 26 deals, which cumulatively were valued at $39.8bn.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom followed closely in terms of deal value, having advised on transactions worth $39.2bn.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher was not far behind, with deals amounting to $38.9bn.

Cravath Swaine & Moore and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett also made it to the top five, advising on deals worth $37.9bn and $36bn respectively.

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Table showing GlobalData ranking of law firms advising on M&A deals in consumer sector for first nine months of 2024
Table showing GlobalData ranking of law firms advising on M&A deals in the consumer sector for the first nine months of 2024. Credit: Global Data

When deal volumes were measured, Kirkland & Ellis worked on 26 transactions. “During Q1 to Q3 2024, Kirkland & Ellis advised on three billion-dollar deals, which included the $35.9bn mega deal between Mars and Kellanova,” GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said.

Latham & Watkins took second place, participating in 12 deals.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Baker McKenzie, and Jones Day were all tied for the third position, each firm advising on ten deals.

GlobalData’s league tables are based on the real-time tracking of thousands of company websites, advisory company websites and other reliable sources available in 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 of the data, the company also seeks deal submissions  from leading advisers.