GlobalData has announced the latest Financial and Legal Adviser League Tables, which rank advisers by the total value and volume of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals they advised on in the automotive sector during Q1-Q3 2026.
Financial Advisers
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial and Morgan Stanley top M&A financial advisers in automotive sector during Q1-Q3 2026
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial and Morgan Stanley were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in the automotive sector during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Mitsubishi UFJ Financial achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $29.7 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley led in terms of volume by advising on four deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Morgan Stanley’s ranking by volume improved from third position during Q1-Q3 2025 to the top position during Q1-Q3 2026. It also held ninth position by value.
“Meanwhile, the total deal value for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial was more than 10 times that of the adviser at the second position. Involvement in the $29.3 billion deal for Toyota Asset Preparatory’s acquisition of a stake in Toyota Industries played a pivotal role in placing it well ahead of its peers.”
Evercore, Lazard and UBS jointly occupied the second position by value with each of them advising on $2.1 billion worth of deals.
Meanwhile, Jefferies occupied the second position in terms of volume with three deals, followed by Houlihan Lokey with three deals, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial with two deals.
Legal Advisers
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case top M&A legal advisers in automotive sector during Q1-Q3 2026
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the automotive sector during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2026 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Kirkland & Ellis achieved its leading position in terms of value by advising on $3.4 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, White & Case led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 10 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “White & Case was the only adviser to hit double-digit deal volume during Q1-Q3 2026. It was also the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2025.
“Although Kirkland & Ellis advised on only half as many deals as White & Case, it led the chart by value during Q1-Q3 2026 due to its involvement in two billion-dollar deals*.”
Baker McKenzie occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $3.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison with $2.1 billion, CMS with $1.8 billion, and Sullivan & Cromwell with $1.8 billion.
Meanwhile, CMS occupied the second position in terms of volume with six deals, followed by Weil, Gotshal & Manges with six deals, Kirkland & Ellis with five deals, and DLA Piper with five deals.
*Deals valued more than or equal to $1 billion
