Dublin law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice advised on more Irish mergers and acquisitions (M&A) than any other law firm in 2009, while rival AL Goodbody advised on the highest value of deals, according to a survey of M&A legal advisers by financial researcher Mergermarket.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice advised on 27 deals valued at $1.745 billion (€1.2 billion), followed by Arthur Cox with 19 deals valued at $1.685 billion and AL Goodbody with 14 deals.

However, the deals on which AL Goodbody advised were valued at $2.338 billion.

McCann FitzGerald advised on eight transactions worth $1.29 billion.