GlobalData announces top M&A financial and legal advisers in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2026
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 Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2026.
Financial Advisers
Goldman Sachs and Rothschild & Co top M&A financial advisers in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2026
Goldman Sachs and Rothschild & Co were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in the Middle East and Africa region 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 Goldman Sachs achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $34.8 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Rothschild & Co led in terms of volume by advising on a total of seven deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Rothschild & Co was the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2025 retained its top ranking during Q1-Q3 2026 as well. It also held the 10th position by value.
“Meanwhile, there was an improvement for Goldman Sachs in value ranking chart from fourth position to the top position. It witnessed a massive year-on-year jump in the total value of deals advised by it, driven by involvement in the $33.4 billion deal for the acquisition of The AES by a consortium of investors.”
KPMG occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $7.5 billion worth of deals, followed by JPMorgan with $6.7 billion, Morgan Stanley with $6.6 billion, and Guggenheim Partners with $6.2 billion.
Meanwhile, Lazard occupied the second position in terms of volume with four deals, followed by Goldman Sachs with three deals, KPMG with three deals, and JPMorgan with three deals.
Legal Advisers
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case top M&A legal advisers in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2026
Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the Middle East and Africa region 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 the leading position in terms of value by advising on $33.4 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, White & Case led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 12 deals.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “White & Case was the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2025 and retained its leadership position by this metric during Q1-Q3 2026 as well, despite experiencing a year-on-year fall in the total number of deals advised by it. Moreover, it was among the only two advisers to hit double-digit deal volume during Q1-Q3 2026.
“Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis also witnessed a decline in the total value of deals advised by it, but still it not only managed to lead by value but out outpaced its peers by a significant margin. Involvement in the $33.4 billion deal for the acquisition of The AES by a consortium of investors played a pivotal role in keeping Kirkland & Ellis well ahead of its peers.”
A&O Shearman occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $9.2 billion worth of deals, followed by Sullivan & Cromwell with $6.4 billion, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with $6.2 billion, and Meitar Law Offices with $5.9 billion.
Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie occupied the second position in terms of volume with 10 deals, followed by A&O Shearman with nine deals, DLA Piper with nine deals, and Meitar Law Offices with five deals.
