Linklaters has cemented its status as an elite M&A adviser with the London giant topping Mergermarket’s European tables for the first nine months of 2002 – just days after the firm once again led the global rankings for the same period.

The figures show the magic circle firm advising on 136 announced European deals this year with a value of e143bn (£90.98bn), more than a fifth higher than that of nearest rival Clifford Chance (CC).