$14.0bn
Average transaction value in FY25 – Top 27 M&A Dealmakers
5.7
Average number of deals in FY25 – Top 27 M&A Dealmakers
Lawyers Weekly is proud to release its first-ever M&A Dealmakers 2025 ranking, which acknowledges high-performing dealmakers across the legal services marketplace in Australia.
This unique ranking spotlights exceptional achievements of the country's leading dealmakers who have raised the bar in mergers and acquisitions across the board.
It also rewards those outstanding dealmakers who have navigated myriad global and market challenges and consistently delivered excellent results.
Disclaimer: This ranking reflects only submissions received and does not account for the work of any other legal professionals within the criteria time frame (July 2024 to June 2025).
The Australian M&A market saw strong growth in FY2024–25, driven by "renewed" policy certainty following the federal election and ongoing interest from international investors in sectors like technology and energy transition, according to a DLA Piper report.
However, the M&A market faced several headwinds, including increased unpredictability and uncertainty amid US President Donald Trump's return to the White House. Another significant challenge is the impact of recent global and economic uncertainty on valuations, with businesses finding it difficult to price M&A deals and global investors struggling to model their potential returns.
Alongside this is ongoing geopolitical instability, international conflicts, fluctuating interest rates, and slow economic growth.
But Australia's top M&A dealmakers did not allow these challenges to deter them. Indeed, these skilled professionals provided strategic guidance so businesses could overcome all hurdles and achieve exceptional results throughout the 2025 financial year.
The Lawyers Weekly M&A Dealmakers 2025 ranking was determined using two key metrics: total value of advised deals and total number of advised deals between July 2024 and June 2025.
How many deals did the M&A lawyers advise on in FY25?
The average value of advised deals among the top 27 M&A Dealmakers totalled $14.0 billion during the 2025 financial year.
The top 20 dealmakers advised on an average of 6.9 deals totalling $18.8 billion, while the top 10 made 8.3 deals with an average transaction value of $32.0 billion.
Deals closed in FY25
- Average number of deals
- Average transaction value
State representation
The majority of the M&A Dealmakers this year are from Sydney, with 18 out of the 27 ranked legal professionals working in the NSW capital. Eight of these Sydney offices have a global presence, while six offices are in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Thirteen out of the 27 dealmakers work in Melbourne offices, including the offices that have a presence in Sydney and Melbourne, while two of the dealmakers work in Perth offices.
18
Offices in Sydney
13
Offices in Melbourne
Top 5 M&A dealmakers 2025
- By value of deals
- By number of deals
- Highest average sales price
Top 10 DEALMAKERS 2025
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Hear directly from the top M&A Dealmakers 2025 over the next few months as Lawyers Weekly provides insights on the strategies these dealmakers implemented to achieve their results and top tips on how you could follow their path to success.
LAWYERS WEEKLY M&A DEALMAKERS 2025
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Disclaimer: Lawyers Weekly has undertaken a process to ensure the accuracy of data used to formulate the Lawyers Weekly M&A Dealmakers ranking. Data for the ranking was supplied by individual agents, offices and/or head offices. While Lawyers Weekly has made every attempt to validate the accuracy of the data, any errors or omissions are the ultimate responsibility of the company or individual that supplied the data and any associated information. To the full extent allowed by law, or the ranking participants, its publisher Momentum Media and Momentum Media employees exclude any liability for any loss or damage sustained by readers arising from the supply, use, or promotion of the Lawyers Weekly M&A Dealmakers ranking.