Skadden partner tops M&A rankings

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom partner Scott Simpson has confirmed his position as the top European M&A rainmaker, securing first place in the individual league tables for the first quarter.

Simpson topped mergermarket's pan-European league table by value of individual lawyers for the first quarter (Q1), advising on three deals worth E81.24bn (£56.14bn). The accolade follows his position at the top of the overall rankings for 2005.

These figures, combined with those of fellow Skadden partner Michael Hatchard, who ranked third with three deals worth E66.27bn (£45.79bn) in Q1, enabled the firm to secure first place in the overall firm rankings for Q1, advising on 14 deals worth E115.89bn (£80.08bn).

However, the US firm loses out to Canada's Osler Hoskin & Harcourt and Spanish independent Perez-Llorca when ranked by average deal value.

Based on calculations by The Lawyer, Osler leads the pack with an average deal value of E24.94bn (£17.26bn), mainly due to a minor role advising Endesa on competing takeover bids by Endesa, Gas Natural and E.ON.

Perez-Llorca ranks a close second with an average deal size of E24.45bn (£16.92bn). This tally is also based on two deals, again including a role on the Endesa deal, this time advising E.ON on its E29.1bn (£20.14bn) counter bid for Endesa.

In fact, no UK firms appear within the top 10 based on average deal size. Linklaters fared best, ranking twelfth with an average deal size of E2.02bn (£1.4bn). However, the magic circle firm did rank second for overall deal value, having advised on 54 deals worth a total of E109.21bn (£75.59bn).