Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom were among the big winners at the Transatlantic Legal Awards, held last night at London's Lancaster Place.

Kirkland (pictured) saw off competition from a raft of leading international law firms to be named Transatlantic Law Firm of the Year at the awards, hosted by Legal Week editor-in chief Georgina Stanley and The American Lawyer editor-in-chief Gina Passarella.

Kirkland recently overtook rival Latham & Watkins to become the largest law firm by global revenue, boosting its top line to more $3.1bn last year on the back of a significant increase in headcount, which rose 13.5% during the year.

The firm has continued its lateral hiring spree in the London market, with notable recent hires including private equity rainmaker David Higgins from magic circle heavyweight Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The firm's continued investment in private equity also paid off with the award for Transatlantic Private Equity Team of the Year.

Skadden co-head of global transactions Scott Simpson was honoured with the coveted Transatlantic Law Firm Leader of the Year, having helped expand the US firm's transatlantic M&A practice during the year. Skadden also took home the awards in the antitrust and tax categories.

The awards, which were judged by a panel of senior editors and reporters from The American Lawyer and Legal Week, recognised firms, lawyers and in-house legal departments for their work spanning the world's two largest and most fiercely competitive markets.

Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy also had a successful night, picking up two awards – Transatlantic Finance Team of the Year and Transatlantic Restructuring Team of the Year.

Credit Suisse's Paul Lanois was named Transatlantic General Counsel of the Year, while Ortho Clinical Diagnostics saw off competition to win the Transatlantic Legal Department of the Year award, after its instrumental role steering its company through the legal and ethical issues of the business's complex carveout from its former parent.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner Juan Morillo was awarded Transatlantic Disputes/Regulatory Lawyer of the Year, while Iberian law firm Garrigues took home the Transatlantic Independent Law Firm of the Year title.

Meanwhile, Cooley, which broke into the London market in 2015 and has swiftly built its City headcount and reputation, was awarded Transatlantic Capital Markets Team of the Year.

Other winners included Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, which picked up the Transatlantic Dispute Resolution Team of the Year award, while Sullivan & Cromwell Frankfurt partner Carsten Berrar was awarded Dealmaker of the Year for his capital markets prowess.