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DLA Piper leads global M&A legal advisor league tables
Posted January 18, 2012
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DLA Piper has retained its number one ranking by deal volume in 2011 amongst the top corporate law firms, both globally and in the United Kingdom, according to mergermarket's league tables for legal advisors. The firm also rose up the ranks to second place in Europe, up from fourth in 2010, and retained its fourth position ranking in the Americas.
DLA Piper's involvement in 347 transactions in 2011 valued at almost US$58 billion, as reported by mergermarket, reflects an increase in the number and value of deals the firm advised upon in several markets including across Europe, Greater China, South Korea and South East Asia.
"Our continued performance as one of the top legal advisors around the globe was punctuated by a number of high-profile deals in a variety of regions," said Roger Meltzer, global chair of DLA Piper's Corporate and Finance practice. "Navigating especially volatile capital markets, our 2011 results highlight both the reach and extraordinary scope of the firm's growing global platform."
In the UK, DLA Piper's ranking for deal value rose significantly from 24th in 2010, to 10th in 2011. In Portugal and Spain, the firm's ranking for deal value also increased dramatically from 29th to ninth with similar success in the CEE, up from 15th to fifth, and Ireland, up six places from 10th to fourth. The impressive increases in rankings were recognised by mergermarket when awarding DLA Piper European Mid-Market Law Firm of the Year at its awards in December 2011.
The firm also made significant gains in the Bloomberg Global M&A legal advisor rankings with DLA Piper's global ranking by deal count increasing from third to second. In addition, the US rose two places to rank fourth and the UK gained 18 places by deal value to reach 18th, as well as 2 places by deal volume to be ranked first. Substantial gains were made in Asia-Pacific as China increased by 67 places to be ranked fourth by deal value and Hong Kong increased by 25 places to eighth. In South Korea the firm increased its ranking by deal count by 22 places to rank seventh. Increases were also achieved by Germany, Italy, Iberia, and Nordic.
Thomson Reuters' league table for legal advisors also saw DLA Piper retain its number one ranking in the UK for mid-market deals, rise 20 places in China to be ranked first for mid-market, and by three places in Europe to rank second. This was in addition to increases in ranking for small-cap deals in the US, Spain, Hong Kong, Australia/New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Latin America and France.
Noteworthy deals in which DLA Piper was involved include Banco Santander's acquisition of 100 percent of the share capital of Bank Zachodni WBK of Poland for €4.2 billion; Qualcomm Incorporated's acquisition of Atheros Communications in a deal worth US$3.1 billion; the firm also worked on the $1.9 billion strategic alliance between Turkish beverage group Anadolu Efes and SABMiller in Turkey, Russia, Central Asia, the CIS and Middle East; and the Government of Hungary's acquisition of a 21.2 percent stake in MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Public Limited Company for £1.6 billion.
Juan Picon, International Group Head of Corporate at DLA Piper, said: "our excellent rankings in the 2011 year-end league tables reflect the value of DLA Piper's truly global platform which enables us to offer a seamless service to clients across the globe. Despite the economic troubles in Europe, we have made impressive progress in this region and continue to make significant headway across the Global practice."
During 2011, the firm also facilitated PopCap Games' acquisition by Electronic Arts for US$1.3 billion; Abengoa, S.A's. sale of the entire issued share capital of Telvent GIT, S.A. to energy management technology company Schneider Electric S.A. for US$1.3 billion; Radiant Systems Incorporated's acquisition by US-based technology firm NCR Corporation for US$1.2 billion; TNK-BP's acquisition of a 45 percent stake in HRT O&G's Solimões Basin oil and gas project in Brazil for US$1 billion; Sterling Bancshares' acquisition by leading US-based financial services company Comerica Corporation for US$1.03 billion; Australia-based Wishlist Holdings in its acquisition by Qantas Frequent Flyer Limited, including the rewards and loyalty programs of ANZ, Optus and Telstra for an undisclosed value; and Hong Kong listed supplier of mining equipment, ERA Mining, on its US$886m acquisition by Caterpillar Inc.
The end of year M&A rankings top a very successful year for the DLA Piper Global Corporate team who, in addition to mergermarket's European Mid-Market Law Firm of the Year, also won the following awards and distinctions: Sub-Saharan Africa M&A Legal Adviser of the Year at the FT mergermarket European M&A Awards; M&A Lawyer of the Year - Mabel Lui, Cross Border M&A Deal of the Year - Middle Markets, and China M&A Deal of the Year Award, all at the M&A Atlas Awards 2011 - Asia Pacific Middle Markets; Band 1 - The Highly Regarded: Nationwide M&A (Chambers USA, 2011).
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