Who are the premier legal Dealmakers?

Gateley and Shoosmiths look like they will be fighting it out again for top spot in the 2016 Volume Deal Review and Advisor League Tables compiled by global information services group Experian. Gately and Shoosmiths ended up in a photo-finish in 2015 with 148 deals each; the former was declared the winner by virtue of its greater aggregate value of transactions. So far in Q1 2016 Gateley have advised on 31 deals with Shoosmiths on 26. Pinsent Masons are tracking the pair on 22 deals.  

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finished on top of the Value Table in 2015 having advised on deals worth £160bn, ahead of fellow magic circle firm Slaughter and May (£128bn). Fast out of the stalls this year however have been David Polk and Wardwell, advising on nearly £7.5bn of deals and NautaDutilh exceeding £6.6bn. Freshfields are currently in 4th place having advised on nearly £3.8bn of deals. This time last year they were 2nd.  

The regional picture is also starting to take shape.

Olswang heads up the London volume table with 9 deals with half a dozen firms slipstreaming on 7 transactions. Olswang was 20th in 2015. David Polk and Wardwell is a front runner in the value table on £5.65bn having finished 8th in 2015.  Freshfields currently sit in 2nd place on £1.6bn and DLA Piper 3rd on £1.3bn.

Dentons are top of the table in the South East notching up 8 deals with last year’s champion Shoosmiths one of two firms on 5. Freshfields lead the value table with just over £2.5bn and they are one of 4 firms who have advised on over £2bn deals in Q1 2016.

In the East of England Mills and Reeve are the early leaders advising on 7 deals with Irwin Mitchell 2nd with 4. Cravath Swaine and Moore, Mannheimer Swartling, NautaDutilh and Vinge are joint leaders of the value table on £6.6bn, all 4 having advised on acquisition by Hatfield based Mylan NV.

Foot Anstey and OTB Eveling head the South West volume table having advised on 4 deals each in Q1 2016. Ashurst top the value table on £441m with Charles Russell Speechlys in 2nd on £48m, Eversheds 3rd with £47m and Pinsent Masons 4th on £45m.     

Gateley is out on its own in the Midlands having advised on 25 transactions in Q1 2016. Gateley also finished top of the volume table in 2015. Irwin Mitchell are 2nd on 9 deals and Shoosmiths 3rd with 8. Shoosmiths top the value table on £106m with Browne Jacobson 2nd on 97 and last year’s top of table Eversheds at 3rd with £80m.     

Walker Morris and Squire Patton Boggs are joint top of the Yorkshire and Humber volume tables advising on 5 deals. Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom topped the money table on £154m with CMS and Ashurst sharing second place on £118m.

In the North West Addleshaw Goddard, who will be looking to build on 2015’s 2nd place, are the early pacesetters having advised on 9 transactions with Shoosmiths a close 2nd on 8. Brabners and Turner Parkinson share 3rd place on 7 transactions. Simpson Thacer and Bartlett are up front in the money table having advised on £853m of deals with CMS and Addleshaw Goddard 2nd and 3rd respectively.

In the North East local firm Muckle is top of the tree in volume with 5 transactions followed closely by Bond Dickinson on 4. Freshfields heads up the money table on a healthy £325m with Bond Dickinson number 2.

5 firms are tied in the Welsh league table. Bermans, Weightmans, Slater Heelis, Geldards and Pinsent Masons have all acted on 2 transactions. 2015’s top billers Addleshaw Goddard and DLA Piper top the money table again in Q1 2016 on £131m.

Sean Doherty is a Managing Consultant with Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment. Sean has placed Associates and Partners into Corporate and Commercial opportunities with the UK's top 100 law firms. If you are considering a move into the corporate and commercial environment of a top 50 UK law firm then contact him by browsing to our people page here