A&L Goodbody Tops Deal Value Rankings Again for NI M&A Activity

Corporate law firm A&L Goodbody (ALG) has, for the sixth consecutive year, been ranked as the leading legal advisor by value of total M&A deals transacted in Northern Ireland in 2019. The firm’s Belfast office has advised on deals totalling over £6 billion from 2014-2019. 

In a report published today by global information services company Experian, ALG's Belfast office is listed as having advised on the most significant deals by value in Northern Ireland, having acted on over 45 transactions across 2019 with a combined deal value of £1.1billion.

Commenting on the report, Alastair Keith, Head of Corporate at ALG in Belfast said: 

“We were struck by the variety of transactions on which we advised in 2019 which included a large number of intra-group reorganisations and energy focussed transactions. We also saw an increase in small and mid-market transactions, such as East #1's investment in Glentoran Football Club.

"Encouragingly, we also saw continued provision of significant growth capital into the market, including significant investments in BrainWaveBank and Neurovalens.”

Mr Keith explained that 2019 was “an outstanding year” for ALG’s 23-strong Corporate practice in Belfast, which saw the promotion of two new partners and four new solicitors. 

“Following another record year, we are thrilled to be named once again as the leading legal advisor by value of deals transacted. 

“This accolade is testament to the expertise and commercial focus of our industry-leading team of corporate lawyers – led by partners Peter Stafford, Mark Thompson, David Rowan, Mark Stockdale and myself, and supported by our wider team of over 120 people in our Belfast office.”

Commenting on the market outlook for 2020, he continued: “Whilst it is difficult to accurately predict corporate activity for the year ahead, the restoration of the NI Assembly in recent weeks has been a welcome development.

“Having come into 2020 with a strong pipeline of local and international deal activity, we remain cautiously optimistic about the M&A landscape for Northern Ireland over the next 12 months.”