Freshfields reinforces its global position in capital markets and dealmaking

• Freshfields ranked in the global top 10 across the Bloomberg, LSEG and Mergermarket H1 2026 M&A league tables.
• #1 globally for cross-border M&A in Mergermarket.
• #1 globally advising issuers on Equity, Equity Linked & Rights offerings, with additional #1 issuer rankings for US Equity Linked and Asia ex-Japan Equity Linked
• #2 issuer rankings for Global Equity IPOs and US Equity IPOs, alongside top-10 issuer rankings for EMEA and Euro Investment Grade Corporate Bonds.
• Almost two-thirds of Freshfields' global M&A deal value involved a US component, reflecting the firm's strength in an increasingly US-led dealmaking market.

Global law firm Freshfields has reported another strong set of H1 2026 league table results across M&A and capital markets, reinforcing the strength of its integrated Global M&A and Capital platform.

The firm ranked in the global top 10 across the Bloomberg, LSEG and Mergermarket M&A league tables, with particularly strong performances in cross-border M&A and across Europe. Freshfields also achieved a series of market-leading capital markets rankings, reflecting the breadth of its Global M&A and Capital practice across equity capital markets, debt capital markets and M&A. Against a backdrop of continued US-led dealmaking, almost two-thirds of the firm's global M&A deal value involved a US component.

Patrick Cichy, Global M&A and Capital Co-Head at Freshfields, commented:

"The first half of 2026 reinforced the importance of having a truly global platform. While market activity continues to be shaped by large-scale transactions, clients increasingly require advisers who can navigate complex, cross-border matters across multiple jurisdictions. Our performance across the major league tables reflects the strength of our international team, the confidence clients place in us on their most significant transactions and our ability to deliver seamlessly wherever opportunities arise."

Leading the market in cross-border M&A

Freshfields secured the #1 global ranking for cross-border M&A in Mergermarket's H1 2026 league tables, alongside #2 in LSEG and #5 in Bloomberg, reinforcing the firm's position as a leading adviser on complex cross-border transactions.

Continued strength across Europe

Freshfields continued to perform strongly across the European M&A market, ranking #1 in Europe in Mergermarket and #2 in both Bloomberg and LSEG. The firm also secured the #1 position in Germany across all three league tables, ranked #2 in the UK in Mergermarket and delivered strong performances across Benelux, the Nordics and Italy.

Private equity

Freshfields continued to advise leading financial sponsors on complex investments, acquisitions and exits. In Mergermarket's published H1 2026 league tables, the firm ranked #2 in Europe Buyouts by value, #4 globally for Buyouts by value and #4 in Europe Exits by value. Bloomberg also ranked Freshfields #6 for European private equity M&A.

Capital markets

Freshfields' capital markets practice also delivered a strong H1 2026 performance. The firm ranked #1 globally advising issuers on Equity, Equity Linked & Rights offerings, alongside #1 issuer rankings for US Equity Linked and Asia ex-Japan Equity Linked offerings. Freshfields also secured #2 issuer rankings for Global Equity IPOs and US Equity IPOs, while achieving top-10 issuer rankings for EMEA Corporate Investment Grade Bonds and Euro Investment Grade Corporate Bonds, further demonstrating the breadth of Freshfields' global transactions platform.