CMS appoints new Chair of CMS Council

CMS, the leading global law firm, has announced that Heike Wagner has been appointed as Chair of the CMS Council, effective 1 October 2020. She will be replacing Robert Bosman, who has held this position since 2007. The CMS Council is the highest decision-making body within CMS.

Pierre-Sébastien Thill, CMS Chairman, commented, “During his 13-year tenure of the CMS Council, Robert has been a highly popular, diligent and inclusive Chair, supporting the strategy and the goals of CMS and contributing to our successful growth as a firm.  I am very grateful to him for all the time and hard work that he has put into the role as a trusted advisor and a senior member of our management team. I am delighted that Heike has agreed to succeed Robert in the role of Chair.  With over two decades of experience at CMS in Germany, and almost two years on the CMS Council,  she is perfectly placed to lead the Council into the next phase, as CMS continues to expand, to increase its digital footprint and recalibrate its business to the post-pandemic ‘new normal’. I look forward very much to working with her and the Council.”

Heike Wagner is a partner in the Corporate/M&A Group, based in Frankfurt. In her role as Chair, she will oversee the CMS Council that contributes to the firm's strategy, approves the organisation’s annual accounts and any governance-related changes as well as the admission of new member firms.

Heike Wagner was made partner in 1998 and is a top M&A practitioner who has been featured in the rankings of Best Lawyer/Handelsblatt and named as a standout lawyer by Acritas. She advises strategic investors and private equity funds on all aspects of corporate law. She specialises in international and domestic M&A and corporate restructurings, with particular expertise in the technology, consumer goods and industry sectors.

Heike Wagner commented, “I am proud and honoured to succeed Robert Bosman as Chair of the CMS Council. Robert led CMS through exciting and challenging times and significantly contributed to the growth and the success of our firm. He has been a diligent, wise and well-respected colleague and friend who gained a deep knowledge of the CMS DNA through his 13 year tenure as Council Chair. It will not be easy to replace him. However, having been part of the CMS family for more than 20 years, I am delighted to be taking on the role and contributing to the next steps in the successful development of CMS.”

Robert Bosman commented,“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Chair of the CMS Council and to contribute to the amazing development of CMS. I am grateful for the support, wisdom and friendship of the CMS colleagues who either served with me on the Council or with whom I have had dealings over the years. It is a good moment to pass on the gavel to my successor, Heike Wagner, in whom I have tremendous confidence. I am sure Heike will be a wise and effective leader and will do a great job. CMS is a wonderful, vibrant and innovative organisation which has been built by great people. I am proud to have been part of it.”