Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has topped the UK and European M&A adviser rankings by deal value in the first half of 2015 – a period that saw global deal value soar to the highest H1 figure since the same period in 2007.

Data exclusively provided to Legal Week by Mergermarket shows that Freshfields advised on 64 deals in Europe in the first half of 2015 worth a combined $173.7bn (£112.9bn), placing it top in Europe for deal value and sixth in terms of deal volume.

It also led the way in the UK by value, acting on 35 deals worth $152.5bn (£99.2bn). The results are a repeat of the firm's performance during the same period last year, when it came first in Europe and the UK by deal value. Key deals for Freshfields so far in 2015 include advising BT on its $19bn (£12.9bn) takeover of EE.