GlobalData announces top M&A financial and legal advisers in construction sector during H1 2026
Morgan Stanley was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the construction sector during the first half (H1) of 2026 by both value and volume, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, which ranks financial advisers by the value and volume of M&A deals on which they advised.
Based on its Financial Deals Database, the leading intelligence and productivity platform has revealed that Morgan Stanley achieved the top position by advising on 15 deals worth $81.3bn.
Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The total number of deals advised by Morgan Stanley almost doubled in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025 and its ranking by volume improved from sixth position to the top position. It was among the very few advisers to reach double-digit deal volume during H1 2026.
“Morgan Stanley’s ranking by value also improved from seventh position in H1 2025 to the top position in H1 2026, as there was more than a four-fold jump in the total value of deals advised by it due to its involvement in some big-ticket deals. In fact, more than half of the deals advised by Morgan Stanley in H1 2026 were billion-dollar deals*. During H1 2026, it advised on nine billion-dollar deals that also included three mega deals valued more than $10bn.”
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $77.4bn worth of deals, followed by Barclays with $47.8bn, Bank of America with $37.1bn, and Wells Fargo with $29.8bn.
Meanwhile, Houlihan Lokey occupied the second position in terms of volume with 10 deals, followed by Generational Group with 10 deals, Goldman Sachs with eight deals, and AEC Advisors with eight deals.
*Deals valued more than or equal to $1bn
Legal Advisers
Kirkland & Ellis top M&A legal adviser in construction sector during H1 2026
Kirkland & Ellis was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser in the construction sector during the first half (H1) of 2026 by both value and volume, according to the latest legal advisers league table by GlobalData, which ranks legal advisers by the value and volume of M&A deals on which they advised.
Based on its Financial Deals Database, the leading intelligence and productivity platform revealed that Kirkland & Ellis achieved the top position by advising on 16 deals worth $43.9bn.
Aurojyoti Bose comments: “The total volume and value of deals advised by Kirkland & Ellis as well as its ranking by these metrics improved in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025, but the growth was more prominent in terms of value. While its ranking by value improved from fourth to the top position, its ranking by volume jumped from the 51st position to the top spot.
“During H1 2026, Kirkland & Ellis advised on five billion-dollar deals* that also included a mega deal valued more than $10bn. Involvement in these big-ticket deals helped Kirkland & Ellis register a massive jump in terms of value and occupy the top position by this metric.”
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Sullivan & Cromwell occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $38.5bn worth of deals, followed by Latham & Watkins with $35.1bn, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom with $34.9bn, and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas with $30.3bn.
Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins occupied the second position in terms of volume with 15 deals, followed by White & Case with 14 deals, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison with 13 deals, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher with 13 deals.
*Deals valued more than or equal to $1bn