Sullivan & Cromwell and Kirkland & Ellis were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the consumer sector during 2025 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database revealed that Sullivan & Cromwell achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $84 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 32 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Sullivan & Cromwell was way ahead of its peers in terms of value during 2025, as it advised on some big-ticket deals. In fact, six of the seven deals advised by Sullivan & Cromwell during 2025 were billion-dollar deals* that also included two mega deals valued more than $10 billion.

“Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis was the top adviser by volume in 2024 and retained its leadership position by this metric in 2025 as well.  It also held the second position in terms of value by advising on $63.5 billion worth of deals.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Cravath Swaine & Moore occupied the third position in terms of value, by advising on $54.1 billion worth of deals, followed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with $48.7 billion, and Arnold & Porter with $48.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with 27 deals, followed by Baker McKenzie with 20 deals, A&O Shearman with 16 deals and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with 15 deals.         

*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion