Mergers and acquisitions in Latin America and the Caribbean plunged 60% by deal value to $25.6 billion in the first nine months of the year as COVID-19 cast a cloud over the region's economies, according to Mergermarket's third-quarter 2020 M&A report.

In the first three quarters of this year, Debevoise & Plimpton catapulted to No. 1 in the rankings by value, advising on four deals worth a combined $9.2 billion. For the same period last year, it ranked 68th.

Brazilian firm Pinheiro Neto Advogados advised on the most deals in the region, consulting on 37 transactions worth a total of $6.9 billion.