At the end of an unprecedented year since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2021 IJGlobal releases for the first time a series of preliminary infrastructure and project finance league tables in all categories... this one focused on legal advisers.

The interim charts for legal advisers capture the momentary picture in all aspects of infrastructure finance based on data available by 31 March 2021, while IJGlobal prepares the final Q1 League Tables Report for the full picture.

• preliminary league tables – project finance for legal advisers
• preliminary league tables – infrastructure finance for legal advisers

Preliminary data shows that Q1 2021 was a period marked by strong M&A activity by European infra funds in the power, telecom and renewable energy sectors, with two acquisitions among the top deals for the period.

In February EDIF III acquired Wheelabrator Technologies' UK WtE business from a Macquarie-managed fund for a total of $2.2 billion, while in March Cubico Sustainable Investments bought Spanish renewables group T-Solar from I Squared Capital in a $1.8 billion deal.

The North American market was driven by oil and gas deals, such as NRG Energy’s bond-backed $3.8 billion acquisition of Texas-based Direct Energy and the $2 billion refinancing of NGL Energy Partners which was funded with bonds and bank debt.

Next preliminary league tables to be released:

• DFI, financial, technical, insurance, model auditor

Already out:

• preliminary league tables for MLAs and bond arrangers