South Korea's largest law firm, Kim & Chang, has retained its leading position in the country's mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisory market for the first nine months of 2023, according to data released on Oct. 3.

The rankings were compiled by the Korea Economic Daily's Market Insight and financial data provider FnGuide Inc.

The firm advised on 40 deals totalling 17.23 trillion won ($12.9 billion), including the Ecorbit sale and the 1.95 trillion won Geo-Young Corp. deal, the largest M&A transaction in South Korea during the first half of the year.

Shin & Kim secured the second position with 34 cases valued at 11.34 trillion won, while Yulchon and Lee & Ko ranked third and fourth, respectively.