Kirkland Leads Big Law’s M&A Dealmaker Pack in Rocky Terrain

Kirkland & Ellis is Big Law’s top M&A adviser so far this year as dealmakers face a tougher than expected transactions market.

The firm guided global deals worth about $138 billion over the first quarter, according to Bloomberg Law’s league tables. Kirkland, which topped the annual chart last year, was followed by Davis Polk & Wardwell ($92 billion), Debevoise & Plimpton ($79 billion), Freshfields ($76 billion), and Latham & Watkins ($68 billion).

Kirkland lawyers advised on two of the quarter’s largest deals: Sycamore Partners’ $23.7 billion purchase of drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., taking the company private, and Constellation ...