GlobalData, a data and analytics company, has revealed its latest league tables for financial and legal advisers, showcasing the top performers in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape during the first quarter of 2024 in North America. The rankings and key insights from the reports are as follows.
Leading the Financial Front
JP Morgan and Houlihan Lokey are the clear leaders in M&A financial advisory services in North America for Q1 2024. JP Morgan is the top player in terms of deal value, with transactions worth a staggering $135.9 billion. Houlihan Lokey is the top advisor in deal volume, with a total of 33 transactions.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, stated that Houlihan Lokey's consistent performance secured its top position in volume for two consecutive quarters, demonstrating its robust presence in the market. JP Morgan witnessed a notable surge in deal value compared to the same period last year, elevating it from fifth place to the apex of the chart. The firm's involvement in 22 billion-dollar deals, including several mega-deals exceeding $10 billion, is what fueled this remarkable ascent.
Other notable financial advisers include Evercore in second place with $100.7 billion in deal value, followed closely by Goldman Sachs, Citi, and Morgan Stanley.
In terms of deal volume, JP Morgan trailed behind Houlihan Lokey, followed by Jefferies, Stifel/KBW, and Goldman Sachs, respectively.
Legal Eagles Take Flight: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom led the pack in deal value, overseeing transactions totaling $115.9 billion. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis secured the top spot in deal volume, advising on a remarkable 101 deals.
Bose highlights Kirkland & Ellis's dominance in deal volume, a feat they've maintained since the previous quarter. Notably, the firm also secured a notable fifth place in deal value for Q1 2024. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom's ascension to the top spot in deal value reflects its involvement in high-value transactions. The average deal size nearly doubled from $2.4 billion in Q1 2023 to $5.3 billion in Q1 2024.
Other notable legal advisers include Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in second place for deal value, followed by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Cravath Swaine & Moore, and Kirkland & Ellis.
In terms of deal volume, Latham & Watkins trailed behind Kirkland & Ellis, followed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and Jones Day. These league tables provide a comprehensive overview of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. They reveal the firms driving the region's dynamic market activity.
Source: GlobalData,
