NEW YORK—FTI Consulting (the former Financial Dynamics) and Brunswick worked on more mergers and acquisitions around the world than any other public relations firm last year, according to the latest rankings from mergermarket.

FTI topped the global league table of M&A advisors by volume, handling 235 deals (down slightly from 238 in 2010) worth just under $150 billion. Brunswick was second, handling 186 deals, followed by Finsbury (115 deals), Kekst and Company (112 deals) and Citigate (110 deals).

Brunswick was number one in terms of the value of deals worked, with a total value of $228 billion (up 4 percent on the previous year), ahead of Joele Frank Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher ($172 billion), Sard Verbinnen ($163 billion), FTI, and Abernathy MacGregor ($147 billion).

Global M&A in 2011 totaled $ 2,200 billion, up just 3.6 percent over 2010, enough to make it the busiest year since 2008. Almost 12,700 deals were announced in 2011, 3.2 percent more than in 2010. But the trend during the year was downward, with activity decreasing over four successive quarters.

North America

Kekst and Company was number one in North America by deal volume, working on 102 deals worth $104 billion, beating out Joele Frank and Sard Verbinnen (87 deals each), FTI Consulting, and Abernathy MacGregor.

For the second consecutive year, Joele Frank was number one in terms of value of deals worked ($170 billion), beating out Brunswick, Sard Verbinnen, Abernathy and Kekst.

The US saw $824 billion of deals in 2011, 14.9 percent higher than 2010.

Europe

FTI was number one in Europe, working on 178 deals worth around $106 billion, ahead of Brunswick (140 deals worth $115 billion, making it number one in terms of value of deals worked), Citigate, Finsbury and Maitland.

FTI also topped the UK volume league table, followed by Brunswick, Finsbury, Citigate and Maitland, while Brunswick was tops in terms of value of deals.

Euro RSCG C&O was number one in France in terms of both volume and value, followed on the volume table by Brunswick, Publicis Consultants, FTI and Citigate. FTI led by volume in Germany, ahead of Hering Schuppener (number one by value), CNC, Brunswick and Charles Barker Corporate Communications. Barabino & Company was number one by volume in Italy, ahead of Community Group (number one by value) and Finsbury.

Asia

In Asia, FTI Consulting worked on 54 deals, worth slightly more than $41 billion, enough for the number one ranking in the volume league table and number two—behind Brunswick—on the value ranking.

Hill & Knowlton, Strategic Public Relations Group and Citadel Communications rounded out the top five on the volume league table.