CMS adds partner to strengthen regulated funds expertise

International law firm CMS is delighted to announce that regulated funds specialist Laura Houët has joined the firm as a Partner in its Financial Services Regulatory team in London.

Laura joins CMS from Eversheds Sutherland, where she gained more than ten years' experience of working in the authorised funds sector. She advises on structuring, reorganising and rationalising fund and product ranges and on all aspects of European and UK regulatory changes. Real estate funds are one of her key areas of focus and she has significant expertise in property authorised investment funds (PAIFs) and authorised contractual schemes (ACSs).

Simon Pilcher, Head of the Financial Markets & Pensions Group at CMS UK, comments: “We are pleased to welcome Laura to the team at what is a critical time for the European financial services market. With Brexit likely to bring about fundamental changes, both directly and indirectly, to the structure of the UK funds market, it is important that we have the right resource and expertise in place to meet the needs of our clients. Laura has a great reputation and proven track record in the regulated funds space and she will be a real asset to the team.”

Commenting on her appointment, Laura adds: “I’m delighted to be part of the growing Financial Services Regulatory team at CMS. The firm already has a strong regulated funds practice in Scotland and I’m excited to help build up a complementary base in London. I'm also looking forward to working closely with the Funds and Indirect Real Assets team led by Amanda Howard, as clients look at regulated fund options for their new real estate products.”

Laura’s appointment highlights CMS’ continued focus on building their highly regarded Financial Services Regulatory team, as it comes swiftly after the appointment of Elisabeth Bremner who joined the team from Norton Rose Fulbright earlier this month.