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Class actions

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Class actions present particular challenges. Simultaneously defending against a large number of individual claims requires not only legal expertise but also an effective team, professional project management and innovative use of legal tech.

We have market-leading expertise in class actions gained through many cases, each involving several thousand individual claims. Our experienced interdisciplinary teams would be happy to assist you with your specific requirements. 

The fact that we are the largest German law firm, combined with our strong focus on legal tech solutions, means we are better placed than almost any other firm in Germany to provide the necessary human and technical resources to advise and represent you effectively in class actions. 

Human resources

We are the largest law firm in Germany, with one of the best-staffed litigation practices in the market. We are therefore able to put together large teams for your project at short notice. In doing so, we can draw on a wide range of resources to meet your exact needs in the specific case, from experienced partners to specialist project lawyers.

Efficient technical support

We have developed our own proprietary software solution specifically for class actions that has been used, tried and tested in many proceedings. This software makes it possible to view the status of the individual proceedings at the touch of a button, even where the number of proceedings is high. It simultaneously provides a statistical overview of all proceedings in the overall project in graphical form. The software also makes it possible for documents required for the proceedings to be created semi-automatically. This solution is a market-leading and highly cost-effective tool for managing class actions. 

Proven project management

Another success factor for managing class actions is efficient project management. Our interdisciplinary Project Management Team ensures that human and technical resources are ideally matched and that cost-efficiency is guaranteed.

Key benefits

  • Local contacts due to our extensive regional presence
  • Excellent market reputation and respected by the courts
  • One-stop project management
  • Legal tech-supported reporting (to board)
  • Cooperation with your press office/litigation PR
  • Interdisciplinary teams
  • Proven track record of cooperating with authorities and government agencies
  • Innovative pricing

"The practice group is one of the largest in the market and has recently experienced another significant surge in growth. The main reason for this is mass litigation for its clients [...], which CMS handles in a separate group using a high level of technology. In addition to classic legal proceedings, the team's work increasingly includes claims management and the worldwide coordination of product liability cases. In addition, the practice group has been instructed to advise on numerous new mandates in the classic disciplines of arbitration, product liability and commercial and corporate disputes. [...] Furthermore, CMS [...] is one of the firms that is most frequently called upon to deal with Asia-related disputes."

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/24

"A notable law firm in the dispute resolution world, CMS offers comprehensive services with a particular focus on representing clients from various industries in arbitration. The firm is respected for its prowess in handling commercial and investment arbitration cases, with members of the team regularly being appointed as presiding arbitrators. Furthermore, CMS offers expertise in mass litigation and liability claims and is regularly involved in politically sensitive projects, acting as counsel on multi-jurisdictional disputes [..]."

Chambers Global, 2023

"CMS is well equipped to advise on contentious proceedings that are multi-jurisdictional. Clients seeking guidance in relation to litigation and arbitration proceedings are well served by the full-service disputes team, which is particularly adept at advising on proceedings relating to Asian markets."

Chambers Global, 2023, Germany International & Cross-Border Capabilities

Awarded as "Innovative Lawyers Europe" and 2023 Winner in the category "Innovation in Client Delivery"

Financial Times Awards 2023

"In addition to its traditionally strong disciplines, such as arbitration, product liability and commercial and corporate disputes, the versatile practice is also tapping into the growing market of mass litigation."

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2023 (GCLF)

Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year

JUVE Awards 2022

"A notable law firm in the dispute resolution world, CMS offers comprehensive services with a particular focus on representing clients from various industries in arbitration. The firm is respected for its prowess in handling commercial and investment arbitration cases, with members of the team regularly being appointed as presiding arbitrators. Furthermore, CMS offers expertise in mass litigation, liability claims and procurement disputes. The team is also regularly involved in politically sensitive and strategically salient projects, acting as counsel in multi-jurisdictional disputes."

Chambers Europe, 2022

"One client describes the team at CMS as 'brilliant professionals with an outstanding knowledge of the law, and they know people across all sectors as well'."

Chambers Europe, 2022

"'Involved in top-quality work', CMS 'has a very broad-based team and is knowledgeable in a variety of areas'. The arbitration group is highly rated."

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"One of the largest practices in Germany, CMS combines deep-rooted local knowledge with considerable international expertise. […] Members of the team regularly coordinate multi-jurisdictional projects on behalf of an impressive roster of German-headquartered entities, as well as overseas players."

Chambers Global, 2021

„Die Disputes-Praxis gehört zu den vielseitigsten im Markt.“

JUVE Handbuch, 2020/2021

"The practice group is one of the largest in the market and has recently experienced another significant surge in growth. The main reason for this is mass litigation for its clients [...], which CMS handles in a separate group using a high level of technology. In addition to classic legal proceedings, the team's work increasingly includes claims management and the worldwide coordination of product liability cases. In addition, the practice group has been instructed to advise on numerous new mandates in the classic disciplines of arbitration, product liability and commercial and corporate disputes. [...] Furthermore, CMS [...] is one of the firms that is most frequently called upon to deal with Asia-related disputes."

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/24

"A notable law firm in the dispute resolution world, CMS offers comprehensive services with a particular focus on representing clients from various industries in arbitration. The firm is respected for its prowess in handling commercial and investment arbitration cases, with members of the team regularly being appointed as presiding arbitrators. Furthermore, CMS offers expertise in mass litigation and liability claims and is regularly involved in politically sensitive projects, acting as counsel on multi-jurisdictional disputes [..]."

Chambers Global, 2023

"CMS is well equipped to advise on contentious proceedings that are multi-jurisdictional. Clients seeking guidance in relation to litigation and arbitration proceedings are well served by the full-service disputes team, which is particularly adept at advising on proceedings relating to Asian markets."

Chambers Global, 2023, Germany International & Cross-Border Capabilities

Awarded as "Innovative Lawyers Europe" and 2023 Winner in the category "Innovation in Client Delivery"

Financial Times Awards 2023

"In addition to its traditionally strong disciplines, such as arbitration, product liability and commercial and corporate disputes, the versatile practice is also tapping into the growing market of mass litigation."

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2023 (GCLF)

Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year

JUVE Awards 2022

"A notable law firm in the dispute resolution world, CMS offers comprehensive services with a particular focus on representing clients from various industries in arbitration. The firm is respected for its prowess in handling commercial and investment arbitration cases, with members of the team regularly being appointed as presiding arbitrators. Furthermore, CMS offers expertise in mass litigation, liability claims and procurement disputes. The team is also regularly involved in politically sensitive and strategically salient projects, acting as counsel in multi-jurisdictional disputes."

Chambers Europe, 2022

"One client describes the team at CMS as 'brilliant professionals with an outstanding knowledge of the law, and they know people across all sectors as well'."

Chambers Europe, 2022

"'Involved in top-quality work', CMS 'has a very broad-based team and is knowledgeable in a variety of areas'. The arbitration group is highly rated."

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"One of the largest practices in Germany, CMS combines deep-rooted local knowledge with considerable international expertise. […] Members of the team regularly coordinate multi-jurisdictional projects on behalf of an impressive roster of German-headquartered entities, as well as overseas players."

Chambers Global, 2021

„Die Disputes-Praxis gehört zu den vielseitigsten im Markt.“

JUVE Handbuch, 2020/2021
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Litigation and Arbitration News
25/07/2019
CMS Dispute Resolution Global Brochure
There are two sides to every dispute – have proven experience on yours. Whatever business you are in, resolving disputes is a fact of life. Knowing you have experienced and pragmatic advisers on your...
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12/09/2023
CMS European Class Actions Report 2023
Data-driven insights into class action risk across Europe, a key concern for major corporates
Publication
16/06/2021
CMS European Class Actions Report 2021
First report on the true picture of European class action risk, a key concern for major corporates 
Publication