GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has revealed its league tables for top 10 legal advisers by value and volume in Middle East and Africa for 2020 in its report, Global and Middle East Africa M&A Review & Legal Adviser League tables 2020’.
According to GlobalData’s M&A report, a total of 954 M&A deals were announced in the MEA region during 2020, marking a 12.6% decrease over the 1,092 deals announced in 2019. The deal value decreased by 53.7% from $177bn in 2019 to $82bn in 2020.
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Top Advisers by Value and Volume
Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region for 2020 by value and volume, respectively. Clifford Chance advised on ten deals worth $21.2bn, which was the highest value among all the advisers. Meanwhile, Allen & Overy led in volume terms having advised on 21 deals worth $12.6bn.
GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose said: “Clifford Chance advised on four billion-dollar deals that were valued more than or equal to $1bn, which also included one mega-deal valued more than or equal to $10bn and was the only adviser that managed to surpass the $20bn mark during the Covid-19 hit 2020.
“Meanwhile, Allen & Overy was also the only firm to advise on more than 20 deals. It also managed to secure the sixth position by value.”
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By GlobalDataAshurst took the second position in GlobalData’s ranking of legal advisers for M&As in the MEA region by value with five deals worth a total $17.1bn, followed by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton with two deals worth $15bn. Abuhimed Alsheikh Alhagbani Law Firm and Khoshaim & Associates jointly held fourth position with a single deal each worth $14.8bn.
White & Case occupied second position by volume with 13 deals worth $2.1bn, followed by Baker McKenzie with 12 deals worth $3.9bn.
GlobalData’s league tables are based on the real-time tracking of thousands of company websites, advisory firm websites and other reliable sources available on 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 to the data, the company also seeks submissions from leading advisers, through adviser submission forms on GlobalData’s website
