After a relatively quiet 2014, this year has seen a flurry of deals, especially in the M&A space. According to the recently released Mergermarket the first nine months of the year has witnessed extraordinary M&A activity with 298 deals worth $27.6 billion, a 22.8% increase compared to 2014.
And one of the firms that has been involved in close to one-fifth of these deals is AZB & Partners. The firm has jumped to the top of the Mergermarket league tables from third position in the first half of the year. AZB & Partners advised on 49 deals valued at $5.7 billion.
This is a remarkable turnaround; AZB was ranked seventh (by value) in the same period last year and this year it has moved to the top.
Speaking to Bar & Bench, AZB Managing Partner Zia Mody said,
“It has been a good and busy year so far for AZB in the M&A space. And I suspect it is the same for most other law firms as well. PE continues to be active and the insurance sector is picking up pace. I would think brisk deal activity would continue for the rest of the year.”
By Deal Value
Khaitan & Co, and Amarchand Mangaldas (combined) respectively came in at second and third place by value. Khaitan has done 30 deals worth $5.7 billion while Amarchand Mangaldas has done 18 deals worth $4.6 billion.
JSA ranks tenth (20 deals valued at $1.8 billion) ahead of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas which ranks eleventh (13 deals valued at $1.36 billion) followed by Nishith Desai Associates and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas.
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, firms that are just 5 months old, have made it to the league table with 13 and 12 deals respectively.
The international firms in this table include Davis Polk & Wardwell, Morrison & Foerster, Gomez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados, Lee and Li Attorneys at Law, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Sullivan & Cromwell, Norton Rose Fullbrights and Dentons.
| Rank in Q1-Q3 2015 | Rank in Q1-Q3 2014 | Firm | Deal Value (in $m) | No. of deals |
| 1 | 7 | AZB & Partners | 5711 | 49 |
| 2 | 14 | Khaitan & Co | 5708 | 30 |
| 3 | 1 | Amarchand Mangaldas | 4640 | 18 |
| 4 | 2 | Davis Polk & Wardwell | 2738 | 2 |
| 5 | 86 | Morrison & Foerster | 2667 | 2 |
| 6= | – | Gomez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados | 2500 | 1 |
| 6= | – | Lee and Li Attorneys at Law | 2500 | 1 |
| 6= | 103 | Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe | 2500 | 1 |
| 9 | 13 | Sullivan & Cromwell | 2308 | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | J Sagar Associates | 1829 | 20 |
| 11 | – | Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas | 1603 | 13 |
| 12 | 29 | Nishith Desai Associates | 1386 | 13 |
| 13 | – | Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas | 1367 | 12 |
| 14 | – | Norton Rose Fulbright | 1300 | 2 |
| 15 | 76 | Dentons | 1300 | 1 |
By Deal Volume
Khaitan & Co, and J. Sagar Associates take the second and third position with 30 and 20 deals respectively. Amarchand Mangaldas (combined) is at fourth position with 18 deals and Desai Diwanji slips one position and makes it to fifth spot with 16 deals.
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Nishith Desai Associates and Luthra & Luthra take the sixth, seventh and eighth position respectively with 13 deals each. Right after them are Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Trilegal with 12 deals each.
The other firms in the league table are BMR Legal, P. H. Bathiya & Associates, Krishnamurthy & Co, S&R Associates and Tatva Legal.
| Rank in Q1-Q3 2015 | Rank in Q1-Q3 2014 | Firm | Deal Value (in $m) | No. of deals |
| 1 | 1 | AZB & Partners | 5711 | 49 |
| 2 | 5 | Khaitan & Co | 5708 | 30 |
| 3 | 3 | J Sagar Associates | 1829 | 20 |
| 4 | 2 | Amarchand Mangaldas | 4640 | 18 |
| 5 | 4 | Desai & Diwanji | 593 | 16 |
| 6 | – | Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas | 1603 | 13 |
| 7 | 14 | Nishith Desai Associates | 1386 | 13 |
| 8 | 7 | Luthra & Luthra | 1188 | 13 |
| 9 | – | Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas | 1367 | 12 |
| 10 | 6 | Trilegal | 1058 | 12 |
| 11 | 16 | BMR Legal | 1160 | 10 |
| 12 | 8 | PH Bathiya & Associates | 817 | 8 |
| 13 | 15 | Krishnamurthy & Co | 399 | 8 |
| 14 | 17 | S&R Associates | 796 | 7 |
| 15 | 30 | Tatva Legal | 406 | 7 |
Asia
AZB & Partners ranks fourth by deal count in Asia Pacific (excl-Japan) with 55 deals valued at $6 billion while Khaitan & Co ranks 12th with 38 deals valued at $5.8 billion.
In Asia Pacific (excl Australia & Japan) AZB ranks second right after King & Chang and Khaitan is at tenth position.
In South East Asia, AZB ranks nineth and Desai & Diwanji is at tenth position.
The post Law Inc soars in 2015: deals worth $27.6 billion, 22.8% YoY increase, AZB tops MergerMarket league tables
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