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Scotland

Europe

Committed to supporting businesses in an ever-changing landscape

As legal advisers and business partners, we are continually adapting how we do business to help our clients find new ways to succeed at a time when the Scottish economy is facing significant challenges.  We focus on ways to mitigate risk and harness innovation to ensure your organisation can make the most of opportunities.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow based lawyers are firmly embedded in their local markets and have the resources and infrastructure of a global organisation behind them.  With over 500 people here, we are serious about Scotland.

We have an exceptionally strong focus on businesses in Scotland that include start-ups, government bodies, manufacturers and investors.  We also work with some of the largest organisations operating around the globe.  Clients often tell us that our genuine ability to assemble the right teams, wherever they are located, sets us apart from other firms.  The expertise of over 5000+ lawyers in over 40 countries cities can be mobilised quickly to create the best team for every situation.

Committed to building a more sustainable world

At CMS we are committed to building a more sustainable, prosperous future for all.  In 2018 we became one of the first law firms to commit to set Science Based Targets. We have a dedicated programme of initiatives in place to reduce our emissions 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, across the full Scope 1, 2 and 3. This includes our offices in Scotland which are powered by 100% renewable energy. We are committed to being Net Zero by 2050 at the latest and are in the process of setting a long-term Science-based Target.

ESG factors have moved from being a niche concern to a strategic board level priority across all sectors and jurisdictions. We’re working with our clients - from multinationals to start ups – to help support their commitments in this rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape. 

Committed to our people and communities

And we are clear that our business is a people business. We have a culture of authenticity and inclusivity, encouraging everyone to be 100% themselves.  

Our commitment to Responsible Business lies at the heart of the firm and our purpose is to inspire, impact and support our clients, people, industry sectors and communities.  We design and deliver a wide range of activities to ensure there is something for everyone to get involved in.  Just some of our activities in Scotland include:

Guiding all our work are the UN Global Goals and our commitment to the UN Global Compact.

Find out how CMS in Scotland can help your business by contacting us now

We are proud of our consistent top tier rankings in our key specialisms such as Corporate/Commercial/M&A, Banking & Finance, Real Estate, IP/IT, Telecoms, Energy/Power/Oil & Gas, Dispute Resolution, Life Sciences/Healthcare, Infrastructure/Projects, Public Sector, Education, Hospitality & Tourism and Transport.

Please contact one of our specialists below at any time:


Our Strategic Secondment Unit offers an experienced team of lawyers dedicated to directly support our client secondment requirements.  This unique approach offers Scottish clients a full-time, permanent CMS team of specialist lawyers with private practice experience across a range of sectors.  Find out more here.

You can also view our CMS Scotland brochure.

CMS Scotland brochure cover - picture of Forth Rail Bridge

 

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Spotlight Scotland - Event programme
Our spotlight series brings you a dedicated programme of events, both digital and in-person, around the issues and topics that matter to you. Join us to keep up to date with the latest developments in your area. You can find out more about our events and register below. You can also view our previous webinars on demand.
28/02/2024
On Point: Insight paper series
Navigating the business landscape in Scotland and beyond presents numerous challenges. From escalating costs to talent scarcity, evolving regulations, and technological advancements, alongside political uncertainties. At CMS Scotland, we are committed to working with our clients to support them with these complexities.
Fintech
Supporting Scotland's ecosystem

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13/06/2024
CMS Real Estate webinar: Repurposing the High Street for Life Sciences...
Candice Blackwood and Henrietta Oliver will share the key findings of our recent thought leadership piece about the transformation of the UK High Street, and the opportunities for life sciences and healthcare (including medical diagnostics) to fill the voids left by retailers.
12/06/2024
IP Updates in the Food & Drink Sector
Join our expert speakers for a webinar on IP developments in the Food & Drink sector with a particular focus on recent cases, north and south of the border.  The webinar will provide an overview of the...
Spotlight Scotland - Event programme
Our spotlight series brings you a dedicated programme of events, both digital and in-person, around the issues and topics that matter to you. Join us to keep up to date with the latest developments in your area. You can find out more about our events and register below. You can also view our previous webinars on demand.
20/05/2024
Skills For Future Facing Teams: How to have coaching conversations
CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams is our programme of leadership and business skills sessions  for in-house legal teams.  Coaching is an essential skill for leaders, regardless of seniority or experience levels.  This session is an introduction to - or perhaps a refresher on - the basics of coaching.  We'll look at:what coaching is - and what it's notthe roles of coach and coacheethe mindset for an effective coachthe skillset for an effective coacha reminder of tthe "GROW" coaching frameworkAs always, we'll provide practical tips, recommend further resources and answer your questions. 
01/05/2024
CMS Media Update Morning 2024
 Our popular Media Update Morning returns and we are excited to welcome you in person to discuss a range of topical areas including:The latest changes to the Media Bill and FAST channel regulation - Victoria Gaskell, John Enser and Sam OustayiannisWhy you need to know about ECCTA now! - Kitty St AubynThe busy world of regulation (tax credit changes, online safety and more) - Rebecca PlattPrivilege quiz (how to keep it and lose it) - Tamsin BlowPlease do come early and join us for coffee and breakfast. As ever, the content will be tailored for the media industry, and we invite you to submit any specific questions in advance by emailing us at Events@cms-cmno. com. To RSVP, please click the button below.  
30/04/2024
Class Action Risk in the Food and Drink Sector
Class action claims are a reality and are only growing in number. The risks to food producers and suppliers come in many forms, whether it be employees, consumers or even shareholders. In this session...
29/04/2024
Skills For Future Facing Teams: Contract negotiation - Top 10 Tips and...
In this session we will share our Top Ten Tips & Tactics to use when negotiating. We will use a relatable but fairly  "all-purpose" scenario to illustrate how to apply the techniques and approaches when negotiating a commercial contract.  You will learn:how to adopt an assertive and collaborative approach to support you  to achieve the best outcomehow to prepare effectively ahead of a negotiation conversationThe facilitators will bring the topic to life using forum theatre - and you the participants will have the opportunity to critique and  improve their performance from the comfort of your desk!In this session we will focus on how to apply negotiation techniques - we won't be covering substantive legal points or tips on specific types of contracts.
25/04/2024
Energy from Waste: The Invisible Man Anticipating and mitigating against...
We are delighted to invite you to the second of four conferences we are holding on the lifecycle of an Energy from Waste Project taking place on Thursday 25 April 2024. Over the four sessions, CMS and EfW industry specialists will team up to discuss the challenges facing Energy from Waste Projects in today’s environment and the role they can play in a Net Zero future. We will cover a wide-range of issues as further detailed in the flyer, which can be accessed here.  Conference Two: The Invisible Man  The second of our series “The Invisible Man” is a panel discussion in which the panel will identify commonly encountered construction, engineering, testing and commissioning risks and how they can evolve into costly disputes if not ringfenced and resolved early. The panel includes: Wayne Robertson, General Counsel of Enfinium Ian Crummack, CEO of Cobalt Energy David Falkenstern, Managing Director and Delay Expert, Kroll James Snape, Partner at CMS as Chair Join us for a lively panel discussion, followed by networking drinks. Please register for the event by clicking the button below.
18/04/2024
In View: Life Sciences & Healthcare - What's new in AI Regulation and Data...
 We are delighted to invite you to the CMS In View: Life Sciences & Healthcare - What’s New in AI Regulation and Data Protection? event taking place on Thursday 18 April at our London Cannon Place offices. The seminar will focus on key AI and data protection topics relevant to life sciences and healthcare where you will hear from industry and regulatory experts from the ICO, Health Research Authority, UCL, the Wellcome Trust and CMS UK specialists. If you would like to attend this event, please register via the button below.
28/03/2024
CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams: Articulating value and effective reporting...
This is the third and final session in our Legal Project Leadership seriesAre you perceived as a business blocker or a business enabler? A business partner or a reactive adviser? It can be challenging for in-house legal teams to get their true value across to the business. This session aims to help you overcome some of these challenges and misconceptions by improving the way you communicate with stakeholders about the projects you are leading.   In particular we will explore how to:bridge the gap between legal and the businessdefine and communicate the value of projectsreport on and communicate progress in a way that engages stakeholders - leading to improved relationships and better results!
27/03/2024
CMS signs global partnership with leading legal GenAI vendor Harvey
International law firm CMS has entered into a global partnership with Harvey, one of the world’s leading generative AI (GenAI) platforms. This partnership puts CMS, operating in 47 countries, at the forefront in using GenAI to enhance the delivery of legal services to clients. CMS has a strong track record of using AI technology in its legal service delivery in transaction, litigation and advisory practice groups. Adding GenAI technology to support clients around the globe is the next evolutionary step. CMS has been looking at the potential of AI for a number of years and at generative AI since before ChatGPT hit the news. “CMS believes that GenAI  will enhance and support our human knowledge and skills, enabling the firm to deliver even greater  benefits to its clients,” said Isabel Scholes, CMS Executive Dir­ect­or.​​Backed by ​OpenAI​,​​ ​Harvey augments productivity and streamlines workflows across ​different parts of legal work, such as contract analysis, due diligence, litigation and regulatory compliance. Harvey can help produce insights, assist in creating initial drafts, suggestions and forecasts from large amounts of data, which are used to create final deliverables. This helps lawyers provide quicker, better and more affordable solutions to their clients. In 2023, CMS started a pilot programme with Harvey, involving a large number of CMS lawyers, tax advisors and notaries in several jurisdictions. Now, CMS will introduce Harvey in a phased approach across its member firms, starting in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK. Pierre-Sé­bas­tien Thill, CMS Chairman, said: “We are very pleased to be collaborating with the GenAI platform Harvey. CMS lawyers will now not only have access to GenAI tools that will help them enhance the delivery of services to our clients but will also work with the Harvey team to help shape the future of GenAI systems in the legal sector.”Duncan Weston, CMS Executive Partner, added: “At CMS, we are constantly challenging and innovating the way legal services are delivered. Our focus is on using technology to solve problems and generate value for our clients. Our global partnership with Harvey is a prime example of this.”"CMS's pioneering spirit in embracing Harvey's AI technology is a powerful move towards a more innovative legal sector. We are honoured to be a part of this journey," said Gabe Pereyra, Harvey Co-Founder and President."By joining forces with CMS, Harvey is helping to chart a new course for legal services that is more efficient, accurate, and client-focused. It's a privilege to support such a dedicated team of professionals," said Winston Weinberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Harvey.
27/03/2024
CMS Expert Guide to cannabis law and legislation
Why this guide? In recent years cannabis trade and related activity has developed into a growth business area. In the life sciences and healthcare fields, there have been increases in the numbers of patients...