UK firms have performed strongly in the US M&A league tables for 2002 with Linklaters squeezed into second place by New York giant Sullivan & Cromwell.

The magic circle firm advised on 13 deals worth $79bn (£49bn) involving at least one US company against Sullivans, which advised on 20 deals valued at $82.5bn (£51.2bn), according to The American Lawyer’s corporate scorecard.