Linklaters was the top Asia Pacific mergers and acquisition advisor in the first three months of 2021 as deals started to pick up following the region's recovery from COVID-19.

The Magic Circle firm leads the pack with $17.6 billion in eight deals between January and March this year, up 41% from same period last year, according to data compiled by Mergermarket. In March, Linklaters advised longtime client Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. on a $5.5 billion offer to buy out its Singapore-listed subsidiary Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd.; the deal was the fourth largest in the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan in the first quarter.