Chicago-based law firm Kirkland & Ellis is paving the way, not just in law firms overall, but in mergers & acquisitions (M&A). During the first three quarters of 2025, they became the top adviser. The company rose to the first place of the leaderboard with the largest deal value. Specifically, it shined in deal volume compared to its peer states. Kirkland & Ellis served as advising counsel on more than 300 of these transactions in that time, illustrating the firm’s record-shattering performance. This accomplishment solidifies their place in this advisory space powerhouse.
The firm’s remarkable run of success is amplified by its leading role in elevated-stakes transactions. It brilliantly guided ten mega deals over $10 billion and successfully advised 69 such billion-dollar deals. This depth of engagement is indicative of the firm’s experience in handling complicated, large-scale transactions. It brings in clients seeking trusted advisors to help them work through the complexities and details of M&A.
Unmatched Volume and Value
Kirkland & Ellis showed remarkable skill in handling a staggering number of these deals during Q1-Q3 2025. The firm led the industry by a mile as the only adviser to break 300 deals. This foundational accomplishment provides a strong example and goal for others to replicate. This is a testament, perhaps, to the firm’s sheer breadth of its client relationships as much as its prowess at executing transactions with speed and precision.
Aurojyoti Bose further added, “Kirkland & Ellis was a clear leader during Q1-Q3 2024 as well, both in terms of value and volume. And that Chicago-based mega-law firm wasn’t even close, outpacing the next top firm by a wide margin—measured in multiples, not times—in volume. In fact, it was the only commercial adviser to successfully advise on over 300 deals in the period Q1-Q3 2025.
Kirkland & Ellis Rules the Leaderboard on Both Metrics. This highlights its preeminence and depth of knowledge in the competitive M&A forum, allowing the firm the unique ability to service an equally wide array of clients.
Big-Ticket Transactions
Beyond its stunning transactional volume, Kirkland & Ellis’s role as advisor on many of the year’s most valuable transactions played a significant role in establishing its leadership position. The firm’s involvement in the record amount of billion-dollar deals speaks to its strength in being able to advise on these large-scale financial negotiations.
Bose remarked that Kirkland & Ellis’ pivotal role in a number of the largest deals enabled the firm to finish 2018—by worth—because the firm’s chief. In total, they led or advised on 69 billion-dollar transactions, including 10 mega deals over $10 billion. Combined with these amazing deals, the firm’s revenue shot through the roof. In the process, they cemented its reputation as the go-to trusted adviser for complex business combinations of large scale.
The combination of both high volume and high-value representation positions Kirkland & Ellis as a formidable player in the legal advisory sector, attracting attention from major corporations seeking guidance through complex mergers and acquisitions.
Future Outlook
Once again Kirkland & Ellis paced the market for M&A legal advisors. After such a strong showing in 2025, it does seem like a very bright future is in store. The firm’s capacity to keep its competitive advantage while operating through a changing economic tunnel will be key.