Key Takeaways
- • Latham & Watkins ranked #1 across key US and Europe direct lending categories in KBRA DLD's H1 2026 league tables, according to the firm's own announcement.
- • Latham advised on 131 combined US direct lending transactions in H1 2026, nearly 46% ahead of the next-closest firm, including 93 lender-side deals.
- • In Europe, Latham advised on 25 combined private credit deals, nearly double the second-ranked adviser, and ranked #1 across buyside, sellside, and lender-side counsel categories.
- • The firm reports advising on more transactions than any other law firm on both sides of the Atlantic, and it cites a more than five-times lead over the fourth-ranked US adviser by combined deal count.
Summary
Latham & Watkins LLP ranked first across key US and Europe private credit categories in KBRA DLD's H1 2026 direct lending league tables, according to a recognition notice published by the firm. The rankings cover combined buyside, sellside and lender-side counsel by deal count, as well as lender-side counsel specifically.
In the United States, Latham advised on 131 combined direct lending transactions in H1 2026, which the firm says is nearly 46% more than the next-closest firm. Of these, 93 were lender-side deals, representing more than 50% market share among the top five firms. The firm states it advised on more than five times as many combined deals as the fourth-ranked adviser.
In Europe, Latham advised on 25 combined deals, nearly double the second-ranked adviser. The firm ranked first in Europe for combined, lender-side and sellside counsel by deal count, which the firm says reflects the breadth of its coverage across the European private credit market.
Latham attributes these results to its Banking & Private Credit Practice, which sits within its Capital Strategies group and spans banking and finance, capital markets, hybrid capital, liability management, private credit, restructuring and structured finance. The firm describes its positioning as central to the global private credit ecosystem, serving lenders, funds, credit platforms, investment managers and borrowers. These figures are self-reported by the firm and drawn from the KBRA DLD rankings as cited in the publication; the related Chambers USA 2026 Guide and H1 2026 league table coverage referenced in the endnotes were not available in full for this summary.
In the United States, Latham advised on 131 combined direct lending transactions in H1 2026, which the firm says is nearly 46% more than the next-closest firm. Of these, 93 were lender-side deals, representing more than 50% market share among the top five firms. The firm states it advised on more than five times as many combined deals as the fourth-ranked adviser.
In Europe, Latham advised on 25 combined deals, nearly double the second-ranked adviser. The firm ranked first in Europe for combined, lender-side and sellside counsel by deal count, which the firm says reflects the breadth of its coverage across the European private credit market.
Latham attributes these results to its Banking & Private Credit Practice, which sits within its Capital Strategies group and spans banking and finance, capital markets, hybrid capital, liability management, private credit, restructuring and structured finance. The firm describes its positioning as central to the global private credit ecosystem, serving lenders, funds, credit platforms, investment managers and borrowers. These figures are self-reported by the firm and drawn from the KBRA DLD rankings as cited in the publication; the related Chambers USA 2026 Guide and H1 2026 league table coverage referenced in the endnotes were not available in full for this summary.
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