Top firm defends Australasia deals crown in Q1

One Big Six firm is starting the year on a great note as it also topped the APAC league table

By Sol Dolor

King & Wood Mallesons has successfully defended its crown as the top firm on deals in Australasia in the first quarter of the year, Mergermarket’s latest league tables reveal.

The Big Six firm advised on US$13.27bn worth of deals across 11 transactions – a 35.5% decline over last year, but still the largest amount in Mergermarket’s first quarter league tables. KWM also topped the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) table with US$18.49bn in deals, and the Asia (excluding Australasia and Japan) with US$15.2bn.

At second place in the Australia and New Zealand ranking by deal value is Allens, which moved up one place, with US$12.64bn. The global firm is followed by Herbert Smith Freehills (US$6.23bn), Gilbert + Tobin (US$4.99bn), and Allen & Overy (US$4.79bn).

Completing the top 10 are: Baker McKenzie (US$4.3bn), MinterEllison (US$3.06bn), Linklaters (US$2.6bn), Clifford Chance (US$2.01bn), and Ashurst (US$1.52bn).

Below are the complete Australasia, APAC and Asia league tables: