Mallesons Stephen Jaques has topped the Mergermarket Australasian M&A league tables, advising on 30 deals valued at US$24.4bn between January and September this year. This result is just ahead of Linklaters’ seven deals worth US$23.6bn, and Allens Arthur Robinson’s 19 deals valued at US$19.6bn.

“I think this year we’re looking at more transactions going into execution,” said Mallesons Sydney M&A partner Brian Murphy. “Last year we spent time on transactions that actually didn’t proceed and also announced transactions that proceeded but weren’t completed.”

Murphy added that more traditional M&A activity has been on the increase. “Speaking to investment banks, they are suggesting that their pipelines are very strong in the M&A area – certainly we’re starting to see that now. I think the generally held view is that the bottom of the market has been met in most sectors. So there is a general optimism among our client base looking at either business restructuring internally or acquisition opportunities externally.”

Freehills came out on top in the volume of deals, with 36 M&A transactions valued at just under US$13bn. This was followed by Blake Dawson, who worked on 31 M&A deals worth US$12bn in the first nine months of the year. Together, Australia and New Zealand accounted for 14.5% of Asia Pacific’s M&A activity by value – trailing China’s 31.8% and Japan’s 23.2% rates respectively.

Editor’s note: ALB’s upcoming M&A Masterclasses will be held in Sydney and Melbourne and will identify key trends in the M&A market, from growth areas to getting involved in Chinese mega-deals.

Legal advisors to Australasian M&A – 2009 values

Legal Advisors to Australasian M&A: 2009 volumes