Clifford Chance (CC), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have topped the first half of the year’s M&A league tables, as figures show the second quarter revival in big ticket European M&A powering the trio ahead of their chasing pack rivals.

The three firms steamed to the top of the advisory tables, with CC taking pole position after advising on 111 announced European deals worth €100.3bn (£69bn),according to Mergermarket’s finalised statistics for the first half of 2005.