The magic circle giant, which rose to the top of the tables in the first half of 2007 after being placed third at the end of 2006, has for the first half of 2007 accumulated 56 deals worth $41.9bn (£20.6bn), according to research compiled by Thomson Financial.
The results see the firm extend its lead on second-placed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, with 15 deals worth $11.8bn (£5.8bn), and magic circle rival Allen & Overy (A&O), on 11 deals worth $6.9bn (£3.4bn). Clifford Chance (CC) is in second place by number of deals, but still trails on value, with the firm’s 21 deals totalling $5.7bn (£2.8bn).
On the issuer side, CC leads on 24 deals worth $16bn (£7.9bn), with Latham & Watkins and Linklaters in second and third position.
In the international debt capital market tables A&O has sustained its place in the number one slot, advising managers on 405 deals worth $230.2bn (£113.3bn). Second-placed Linklaters acted on 278 deals worth £178.1bn (£87.7bn).
A&O finance partner Boyan Wells told Legal Week: “We have been strong across the board but this quarter we have seen an incredible explosion of deals in the Middle East.”
Deals cited by the firm include advising Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs International on the debut $1.25bn (£615m) Islamic sukuk issue by Dubai International Financial Centre’s investment arm and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the issuance of its debut $1bn (£490m) of global bonds. Both teams were led by Roger Wedderburn-Day.
CC and Sidley Austin, meanwhile, sustained their third and fourth positions in the tables, advising managers on 174 deals worth $144bn (£70.9bn) and 66 deals worth $93bn (£45.8bn) respectively.
The issuer tables remain unchanged at the top, with Sidley Austin, A&O and CC retaining their first, second and third places. However, Linklaters has stepped up into fourth place, taking over from Sullivan & Cromwell with 46 deals worth $61bn (£30bn).