Linklaters has topped Mergermarket’s Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) M&A rankings by value for the first three quarters of this year.

The firm is closely followed by Wall Street leaders Sullivan & Cromwell and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in second and third place respectively, while Australian firm Freehills – which topped the ranking at year-end 2007 – has been knocked into eighth place.