At least seven merger and acquisition stalwart firms in Big Law guided Mars’ $35.9 billion buy of snack maker Kellanova, announced Wednesday. Those on the deal, one of the largest of 2024, include Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Kirkland & Ellis; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Sullivan & Cromwell.

The deal is one of the latest to highlight how 2024 M&A value is on the rise from last year, supporting Big Law corporate practices. According to London Stock Exchange Group data, megadeals of more than $10 billion were up 70% in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023 levels, helping to fuel an overall uptick in M&A value this year, despite a lower number of deals overall.