Getting started

To determine our financial and legal advisory shortlists, each firm that makes the cut is invited to submit an A4 page pitch. A panel of M&A veterans will review these pitches, compare them with our league table data, and debate the deserving winners. To ensure local advisers are well represented, we also nominate the highest-ranked locally headquartered advisers to the shortlist.

What we provide the panel

During the judging process, the panel will receive the following M&A data:

• Your league table ranking by both value and volume for the category.
• The overall deal count and total transaction value for your firm for the category.
• Your pitch, which needs to tell the story behind these numbers.

Crafting your pitch

The judges want to know why you deserve to win. An ideal pitch will demonstrate how you added value to deal processes, supported clients, and offered creative solutions to complex situations.

Highlighting your successes

Multiple Deals: If you have several significant deals, highlight these and explain their importance and your role in their success.

Single Landmark Deal: If one transaction stands out, focus on this and detail your direct contribution, especially if you were the lead adviser.

What to avoid

The judges are instructed to disregard:

• References to non-Mergermarket awards and rankings.
• Deals not meeting our criteria for inclusion in Mergermarket’s database.
• Financing or underwriting on deals without an M&A mandate.
• Legal advice offered solely to financial advisers.

Additional Notes

• Pitches are confidential documents, however, please clearly mark any previously undisclosed information as “confidential”.
• No presentations, illustrations, or pitchbooks are needed; a single page will suffice.
• The mid-market prize includes deals between $5-150 million (or equivalent).