Skip to main content

News

Freshfields tops cross-border league tables with leading positions across US, Europe and Asia

  • Freshfields secures top position for global cross-border deals valued at $161.3bn (Bloomberg) and ranked sixth leading legal advisor for global M&A by deal value, advising on 246 deals valued at $344.6bn (Mergermarket)
  • Freshfields ranked eighth in the US for deal value with deals totalling $194.8bn, and tenth in the US Announced Deals - By Principals table - this marks three out of the last four years in the top 10 for US announced M&A representing principals (Bloomberg).
  • Freshfields named leading legal advisor in Europe (Mergermarket, Refinitiv, Bloomberg), advising on 167 M&A deals in Europe valued at $168.2bn (Bloomberg)
  • Freshfields was additionally ranked in first place for European private equity deals by value, advising on 62 deals valued at $75.9bn (Bloomberg), and advised on the second largest buyout globally (Refinitiv). 

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has secured the top position for global cross-border deals by value (Bloomberg) and ranked sixth for global M&A by deal value in 2023 (Mergermarket), recognising the firm’s leading client service across a host of complex global transactions last year.

The firm placed first for European M&A by deal value*, marking eight years in a row** that the firm has held the top position. Freshfields was the highest ranking in the UK, having advised on 70 deals worth $78.7bn (Mergermarket).

Freshfields was additionally ranked in first place for European private equity deals by value, advising on 62 deals valued at $75.9bn (Bloomberg).

Julian Pritchard, Head of Global Transactions at Freshfields, commented: "Our positioning in the league tables reflects our commitment to our clients and helping them achieve their commercial objectives on their most challenging M&A transactions globally.  We are proud of the trusted partnerships that we have developed with so many of the world’s great businesses. The results show the depth of our expertise across our global M&A team and how we bring together those teams with our recognised global regulatory capability to help our clients get the best outcomes on their deals."

He added: “One prediction is that we may expect to see an uptick in cross border activity this year as global markets are showing interesting trading multiple differentials.”

Freshfields among elite law firm advisers for one of the biggest private equity deals of the year

Freshfields was highlighted for advising on a private equity consortium’s acquisition of eBay-backed listings company Adevinta, the second-biggest leveraged buyout of the year (Refinitiv).  

Freshfields placed first in Europe, the UK, DACH, Benelux, the Nordics and Switzerland

Freshfields has topped both the European and UK mergers and acquisitions adviser rankings. The firm completed 186 deals in Europe, worth $193.9bn, and 72 deals in the UK worth $51.65bn, according to data from Refinitiv.

Freshfields secured 71 deals in DACH valued at $101.7bn; Germany closed 53 deals valued at $52.9bn; Switzerland saw 18 deals valued at $49.8bn (Mergermarket). While in the Nordics and Benelux the firm completed 26 and 36 deals respectively, valued at $45.3bn and $29.2bn (Mergermarket).

Freshfields ranks among top 10 in the US

Freshfields’ US rankings increased across all three tables (Bloomberg, Mergermarket, Refinitiv). The firm moved to 8th position in Bloomberg with 102 deals totalling $194.8bn. The firm also moved to 9th position in Mergermarket (from 21st), with 93 deals valued at $213bn.

Freshfields retains second place position in Asia Pacific

In Asia, (excl. Australasia & Japan), Freshfields ranked second with 34 deals valued at $40.6bn (Mergermarket), while in Asia Pacific (excl. Japan), the firm ranked in fourth place with 36 deals valued at $42.6bn (Mergermarket).

 

Ends

Notes to editors

• *Data for FY23 results according to Bloomberg, Refinitiv and Mergermarket.

• **Data for eight consecutive years according to Mergermarket.

•  All currency is denominated in USD