Legal Services

Leveraged finance lawyers get creative to fill the M&A void

Dealmakers are eyeing a return of traditional M&A activity to drive growth in leveraged finance

Leveraged finance lawyers are anticipating more M&A work
Leveraged finance lawyers are anticipating more M&A work Photo: Jose Sarmento Matos/Getty Images

The European leveraged finance market has enjoyed a buoyant first half of the year, led by “creative” refinancing deals, however law firms are pinning their hopes on a recovery in private equity M&A activity to deliver sustained growth.

In Europe, high-yield bond issuance rose 11% year-on-year to $84bn in the first six months of 2025 while the leveraged loan market increased 25% to $156bn, according to data from Debtwire. 

WSJ Logo
Blue States Hunt for Ways to Wring More Taxes From the WealthyExternal link

Blue States Hunt for Ways to Wring More Taxes From the Wealthy