DLA Piper ranked as top African M&A deal advisor

DLA Piper, together with its DLA Piper Africa offices, was ranked as the top legal advisors across African M&A transactions (by deal volume), according to MergerMarket's 2025 league tables, representing approximately 15% of all M&A transactions across Africa. DLA Piper also secured the #1 position for the Middle East and Africa (by deal volume), for the third consecutive year.

Over the past 12 months, DLA Piper has worked on a number of outstanding global deals, demonstrating the firm's ability to advise on its clients' most complex, high-value and multi-jurisdictional projects. These include advising JSE listed Premier Group on its ZAR4.3 billion acquisition of RFG Holdings (also JSE listed); Helios Investment Partners along with Fipar Holding, on their acquisition of Maroc Datacentre, the Morocco based operator of data center services, Munisys Inc and Medasys and in Kenya, KCB Group's acquisition of a minority stake in Pesapal.

Each year, the business intelligence provider Mergermarket identifies the commercial law firms that have provided leading advice on company acquisitions and sales in the past twelve months. DLA Piper was involved in over 1,300 transactions worldwide in 2025, valued at approximately USD97 billion, achieving the #1 spot globally, for the 16th year running.

Peter Somekh, DLA Piper’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa said: "As Africa stands at a defining moment — poised to become one of the world’s fastest‑growing regions, driven by innovation, integration and ambition — our ability to combine deep local insight with international reach gives us a unique advantage as M&A continues to shape the continent’s growth story through transformative transactions, capital flows and solutions to complex challenges.”

James Kamau, Chair of DLA Piper Africa said: “Having been ranked number one for African M&A underscores our commitment to helping clients navigate rapidly evolving and increasingly complex African markets. In an environment defined by shifting capital flows, emerging sectors and rising cross‑border activity, this achievement reflects the strength of our people and our shared culture of thinking differently to unlock opportunity across the next economy and drive successful outcomes for our clients."

This award follows the recent win by DLA Piper of "Best Law Firm of the Year" at the annual SuperReturn Africa Awards 2025.