Kirkland & Ellis has emerged as the leading legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions in the construction sector during the first half of 2026, marking a significant achievement in both deal value and volume. This development underscores a major shift in the competitive landscape for legal advisory services in the construction industry.
What Happened
According to GlobalData’s latest legal advisers league table, Kirkland & Ellis participated in 16 construction sector transactions, with a total disclosed value of $43.9 billion, surpassing all other firms in both deal value and volume. This represents a substantial increase from H1 2025, where the firm was ranked fourth in value and 51st in volume. Notably, Kirkland & Ellis advised on five billion-dollar deals, including a mega deal valued at over $10 billion, which significantly boosted its standings.
Sullivan & Cromwell ranked second by deal value, advising on transactions totaling $38.5 billion, while Latham & Watkins closely followed with deals worth $35.1 billion. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas rounded out the top five, with deal values of $34.9 billion and $30.3 billion respectively. In terms of deal volume, Latham & Watkins took the second spot with 15 advised deals, while White & Case followed with 14 transactions. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, along with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, each advised on 13 deals.
What This Means for Your Business
For stakeholders in the AECM industry, this ranking highlights Kirkland & Ellis as a formidable player in handling complex M&A transactions, which could influence decisions on legal partnerships for future deals. The firm's capacity to manage high-value deals suggests robust expertise and resources, potentially offering better negotiation leverage and strategic insights during acquisitions. Companies looking to engage in M&A activities may find partnerships with top-performing advisers beneficial in navigating regulatory and compliance landscapes, including adherence to CMMC, NIST standards, and Zero Trust architecture, which are increasingly critical in government and defense contracts.
What US Operators Should Watch
As the construction sector continues to evolve, operators should monitor the performance of legal advisers in M&A league tables, as these rankings can inform strategic decisions in selecting advisory partners. Additionally, keeping an eye on major M&A trends and upcoming federal regulations can help businesses stay ahead in compliance and competitive positioning. Operators should also be aware of forthcoming procurement opportunities and federal funding windows that may arise from these large-scale transactions.
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Source: https://www.worldconstructionnetwork.com/news/kirkland-ellis-top-ma-legal-adviser/. Read the original story ->
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