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Skadden Arps leads list of 2012 M&A advisers

The firm handled $316 billion worth of deals last year, according to Thomson Reuters data

By Alanna Byrne

January 7, 2013 • Reprints

It’s the time of year for “best of” lists, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom topped Thomson Reuters’ list of law firms that advised on the highest-value mergers and acquisition deals in 2012.

Skadden snagged the top spot by advising on 200 deals worth a total of $316 billion, up from 2011 when it landed in the No. 6 spot with $233 billion of transactions. One of the firm’s most notable deals was the $56 billion acquisition of Russian oil company TNK-BP by the Rosneft Oil Co., according to data published by Thomson Reuters’ News & Insight unit.

Coming in behind Skadden was Simpson Thacher & Bartlett—last year’s top M&A adviser—which handled $281 billion worth of deals in 2012. Sullivan & Cromwell rounded out the top three with 120 transactions worth $275 billion.

Globally, 18 percent of deals involved companies in the energy and power sector; the healthcare and consumer staples sectors were also active last year.

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