A&L Goodbody (ALG) advised on 61 Irish M&A transactions last year, the most of any law firm, according to Mergermarket.
The top 10 was completed by Matheson (52), Arthur Cox (46), William Fry (42), Philip Lee (37), Eversheds Sutherland (35), Wallace Corporate Counsel (33), Flynn O'Driscoll (31), Mason Hayes & Curran (26) and McCann Fitzgerald (24).
While ALG and Matheson both increased their deal count by eight from 2023, Flynn O'Driscoll more than doubled its deal count from 14 to 31, and Wallace Corporate Counsel's count cratered, dropping from 68 to 33.
Additionally, ALG has now advised on more mergers and acquisitions in the past five years (292) than any other law firm.
Notable deals that ALG advised on in 2024 include K1 Investment Management's P2P acquisition of MariaDB by way of tender offer and Exponent Private Equity's takeover of Channelle Pharma.
The firm also advised on the merger of Grant Thornton Ireland (Advisory and Tax) with Grant Thornton Advisors US, Blacksheep Fund Management's acquisitio of Daft.ie and DoneDeal parent Distilled Ltd, and Cimsa's €330m takeover of Mannok Holdings.
“The Irish and worldwide M&A market remained surprisingly resilient and buoyant in 2024 in the shadow of much political and economic uncertainty, as well as increasing levels of conflict and geo-political tensions worldwide," said Richard Grey, head of M&A at ALG.
"While many of these factors persist into 2025, we anticipate that falling interest rates, increased political stability in Ireland and continued private capital interest in the Irish market will drive even higher levels of M&A activity in Ireland into 2025.
"2024 was another excellent year for ALG. Our number one ranking in 2024 reinforces our position as the go to law firm, for both international and domestic clients, on material M&A transactions in the Irish market.”
In terms of value, Arthur Cox ranked first, advising on 46 deals worth a total of $19,269m, an increase of 54% from 2023 ($12,489m).
Latham & Watkins advised on five deals worth a total of $11,698m, up 46,692% from $25m in 2023, and Eversheds ($11,275m) advised on 35 deals worth $11,275m, up 1,117% from $867m a year earlier.
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom advised on two deals totalling $11bn while Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison advised on one deal worth $11bn, which was less than half of the $23,292m in M&A activity the firm advised on in 2023.
The 61 deals advised on by ALG were worth a total of $10,261m, nearly triple its 2023 total ($3,494m), and the top 10 was completed by McCann Fitzgerald (24 worth $5,752m), William Fry (42 $4,834m), Kirkland & Ellis ($4,697m) and Milbank ($4,535m).
Photo: Richard Grey. (Pic: Supplied)
