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 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.

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