New York giant Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Los Angeles-based Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and London’s Clifford Chance (CC) have surged up the US M&A rankings in the first half of 2002.

Research published this month by Thomson Financial shows Skaddens, traditionally one of America’s top M&A advisers, regained the top place for announced US transactions in the first half of the year, acting on 65 deals valued at $45.17bn (£29.14bn).