Australian M&A legal advisers

H1 2026 · Australian M&A announced · 146 deals · A$60bn disclosed

Deal size
Custom range
Australian M&A legal advisers, H1 2026, ranked by deal value
1 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer 11 deals · 26.9% share · was #7
2 Ashurst Perkins Coie 9 deals · 24.4% share · was #2
3 Mallesons 6 deals · 16.6% share · was #4
4 MinterEllison 12 deals · 15.0% share · was #22
5 Allens 16 deals · 14.9% share · was #8
6 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 2 deals · 11.5% share · new
6 Davis Polk 1 deal · 11.5% share · new
8 Gilbert + Tobin 12 deals · 9.8% share · was #1
9 Latham & Watkins 3 deals · 9.0% share · new
10 Cooley 2 deals · 8.6% share · new
11 Freshfields 1 deal · 5.7% share · new
12 Chapman Tripp 1 deal · 5.7% share · new
12 Linklaters 1 deal · 5.7% share · new
14 Thomsons 8 deals · 5.6% share · was #33
15 Gibson Dunn 1 deal · 5.0% share · new
15 Macfarlanes 1 deal · 5.0% share · new
15 Uria Menendez 1 deal · 5.0% share · new
18 K&L Gates 4 deals · 3.9% share · was #39
19 Clayton Utz 11 deals · 3.2% share · was #10
20 Hamilton Locke 19 deals · 2.6% share · was #36
21 Corrs Chambers Westgarth 10 deals · 1.8% share · was #9
22 Steinepreis Paganin 9 deals · 1.1% share · was #44
23 Broadstream Advisory 1 deal · 1.1% share · new
24 HopgoodGanim Lawyers 3 deals · 0.8% share · was #23
25 Dentons Canada 2 deals · 0.8% share · new
Share of the table, H1 2026
Australian M&A legal advisers, H1 2026: share of the tableHerbert Smith Freehills Kramer26.9%Ashurst Perkins Coie24.4%Mallesons16.6%MinterEllison15.0%Allens14.9%Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton11.5%Davis Polk11.5%Gilbert + Tobin9.8%Latham & Watkins9.0%Cooley8.6%

Top ten by deal value.

Rank by year
Australian M&A legal advisers: rank by year#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#1020252026 YTDHerbert Smith Freehills Kramer: #4 in 2025Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: #2 in 2026 YTD#2 Herbert Smith Freehills KramerAshurst Perkins Coie: #1 in 2025Ashurst Perkins Coie: #3 in 2026 YTD#3 Ashurst Perkins CoieMallesons: #6 in 2025Mallesons: #4 in 2026 YTD#4 MallesonsMinterEllison: #10 in 2025MinterEllison: #5 in 2026 YTD#5 MinterEllisonAllens: #3 in 2025Allens: #1 in 2026 YTD#1 AllensCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton: #9 in 2026 YTD#9 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamil…Davis Polk: #9 in 2026 YTD#9 Davis PolkGilbert + Tobin: #2 in 2025Gilbert + Tobin: #6 in 2026 YTD#6 Gilbert + Tobin

This table's top firms in each year.

90 deals have no disclosed value. H1 2025 rank is the firm's place in the same period a year earlier, under the same filters. Methodology

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