Latham, Wachtell Lead M&A Dealmakers as Mega Boom Boosts Firms

Latham & Watkins strengthened its grip on the top spot among Big Law’s M&A advisers in a third quarter boosted by record large deals.

The firm guided global transactions worth nearly $499 billion in the first three quarters of the year, followed closely by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz ($452 billion) and Kirkland & Ellis ($432 billion), according to Bloomberg Law’s league tables. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom ($288 billion) and Sidley Austin ($240 billion) rounded out the top five.

Leading firms snagged work on massive deals, like Union Pacific Corp.'s planned $72 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern Corp. ...