Kirkland & Ellis was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser in the oil & gas sector during 2025 by both value and volume, 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 having advised on 51 deals worth $81.9 billion.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by value as well as volume in 2024 and managed to retain its leadership positions in 2025 also.

“In terms of volume, it was comfortably ahead of other advisers. However, the margin was relatively less by value. It is noteworthy that Kirkland & Ellis registered improvement in the total number of deals advised during 2025 compared to the previous year but registered a drop in value terms.”

Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $78.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett with $48.4 billion, Sullivan & Cromwell with $43.6 billion and Vinson & Elkins with $39.4 billion. 

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with 35 deals, followed by Vinson & Elkins with 30 deals, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with 21 deals and White & Case with 16 deals.