DLA Piper ranked as the top legal adviser by deal value in construction sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Q1 2026, while Kirkland & Ellis led by deal volume, according to GlobalData’s latest legal advisers league table.
GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database shows DLA Piper advised on deals worth $10.5bn during the quarter. Kirkland & Ellis worked on nine deals over the same period, placing it first by volume.
Clifford Chance placed second by value after advising on $10.5bn of construction M&A deals, based on GlobalData’s Deals Database. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz also advised on $10.5bn, followed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher on $6.1bn and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison on $5.1bn.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison ranked second by volume with eight deals. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher advised on seven deals, while Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Latham & Watkins each advised on six deals during Q1 2026.
GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said: “Both DLA Piper and Kirkland & Ellis registered improvement in value and volume of deals advised by them, respectively, in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. As a result, each saw a significant jump in their respective rankings.
“Kirkland & Ellis’s ranking in terms of volume rose from 31st in Q1 2025 to top spot in Q1 2026, while DLA Piper’s improved its ranking from 33rd to top the chart by value, driven by its involvement in a mega deal valued more than $10bn.”
GlobalData’s league tables are based on the real-time tracking of thousands of company websites, advisory firm websites and other reliable sources available in the secondary domain. A dedicated team of analysts monitors all these sources to gather in-depth details for each deal, including adviser names.
To ensure further robustness of the data, the company also seeks submissions of deals from leading advisers.
