Kirkland & Ellis ranked as the top legal adviser by both deal value and volume in construction sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) during the first half (H1) of 2026, according to GlobalData’s latest legal advisers league table.

Data from GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database show that Kirkland & Ellis participated in 16 transactions, with a total disclosed value of $43.9bn.

Sullivan & Cromwell ranked second by value, having advised on deals worth $38.5bn, with Latham & Watkins following closely at $35.1bn.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was next, recording $34.9bn in total M&A deal value, while Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas took fifth position at $30.3bn.

Regarding deal volume, Latham & Watkins placed second with 15 advised deals. White & Case followed, advising on 14 transactions.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, as well as Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, each advised on 13 deals.

GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said: “The total volume and value of deals advised by Kirkland & Ellis as well as its ranking by these metrics improved in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025, but the growth was more prominent in terms of value.

“While its ranking by value improved from fourth to the top position, its ranking by volume jumped from the 51st position to the top spot.

“During H1 2026, Kirkland & Ellis advised on five billion-dollar deals that also included a mega deal valued at more than $10bn. Involvement in these big-ticket deals helped Kirkland & Ellis register a massive jump in terms of value and occupy the top position by this metric.”

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.