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Environment

Companies face increasing regulatory, governance and public pressure to manage and minimise the impact of their business operations on the environment. At the same time the environment agenda is opening up significant opportunities to new and evolving businesses.

For over 25 years, CMS has consistently been a leader in the UK and Europe in specialist environment legal advice. Peers and clients have continuously rated us in the top tiers, due to our depth of knowledge, experience and application across most sectors.

We undertake advisory work on current and new regulations, together with a wide variety of transactional work where environment issues are dominant, including cutting edge development of contractual language. We advise on disputes work involving prosecutions, regulatory enforcement, permitting appeals and variations, civil nuisances, claims under indemnities and warranties, insurance, D&O claims and professional negligence.

Multi-national and national organisations come to us for matters where environment issues, risks and opportunities are significant to the commercial success of their businesses. We work for clients in virtually all sectors, including chemicals, cleantech, construction, consumer products, energy, energy efficiency, energy from waste, environment consultancies, finance, infrastructure and projects, insurance, manufacturing, real estate and hotels, renewables, telecoms, transport, water and waste management. We are well-known for our horizon scanning and creative thinking.

"Their service levels and responsiveness were above and beyond."

Chambers, 2024

"CMS has a strong team and there is always someone available to help, even at short notice. The team is very knowledgeable and pragmatic when it comes to giving advice."

Chambers, 2024

"The CMS lawyers have an in-depth understanding of the waste sector and can provide guidance on what practices are available within the industry."

Chambers, 2024

"The team provides helpful and pragmatic advice."

Chambers, 2024

"The environment team is very talented and all members tackle any issue that we need addressed."

Chambers, 2024

"The team is always quick to respond. They're also knowledgeable and helpful."

Chambers, 2024

"CMS is focused on what is achievable and provides practical routes to get there."

Chambers, 2024

"CMS offers extremely good client service. They're very timely, proactive and commercially aware."

Chambers, 2024

"When they are on your case, it is as though they have nothing else to concern them."

Chambers, 2024

"CMS employ very clever staff. They are on-the-ball."

Legal 500, 2024

"Ability to quickly understand the technical detail and nuances related to the specific sector that we work in. Understanding of risk related to our operations as a result of any issue arising. Ability to react quickly to any issue that arises. Their service gives me confidence in action that we take."

Legal 500, 2024

"CMS has a very long-standing knowledge of the heavy and waste industries in the North and elsewhere going back decades. You can’t buy this sort of grounding in and knowledge of client industries, and that is particularly unique with CMS."

Legal 500, 2024

"I have been impressed by the lengths individuals at CMS go to in order to ensure that the client and, most importantly, the individuals involved in a case are well-informed and included at each and every step. This seems simple but is often overlooked, as many firms still focus their attention on those with authority to sign off the bills, forgetting that they are often not the ones whose evidence can make a difference in a case."

Legal 500, 2024

"They're a fantastic team and are the best in environmental safety. They deal with high-calibre work and cases."

Chambers, 2023

"The CMS team have an uncanny ability to simplify complex situations/scenarios, and present well-reasoned arguments based on fundamentals and facts."

Legal 500, 2023

"The team's real strength is the ability to act for clients across the breadth of environmental law. They are very knowledgeable about the latest developments across environment, energy and climate regulation."

Chambers, 2023

"CMS provide a depth of industrial knowledge which is well balanced with their legal positions in general."

Chambers, 2023

"I've known the CMS team for a long time and I hold them in high regard."

Chambers, 2023

"The CMS lawyers who advise us have an in-depth understanding of complex regulatory matters."

Chambers, 2023

"Their responsiveness and ability to manage cases has been second to none."

Chambers, 2023

"Their lawyers have really invested their time getting to know us as a client."

Chambers, 2023

"It always feels as if you are their only client."

Chambers, 2023

"Excellent knowledge and advice in environmental law. Work well and integrate with other areas of CMS as necessary to provide a full package of advice."

Legal 500, 2023

"The team has a wealth of knowledge across the field of environmental law. It is comforting to know that CMS have legal experts in very specific matters of environmental law."

Legal 500, 2023

"Responsive and understanding and offer the ability to give practical and sensible advice and not tie everyone up in legal jargon."

Legal 500, 2023

"Leaders in energy transition and provide excellent technical and commercial support to new energy projects. Overall they offer the full package for 21st century energy and natural resources clients."

Legal 500, 2022

"I was impressed with the way they put together a team with a variety of expertise and experience in the room and it came across seamlessly. There are not many firms that can deal with environmental issues in such a complete way and I was highly satisfied and appreciative of the result achieved."

Legal 500, 2022

"Commercial. High-quality advice given efficiently and on time. Rather than simply saying what the law says they explain what it means and will advise on strategy. This is rare for lawyers."

Legal 500, 2022

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Cleantech
Cleantech encompasses technology and services that address environment issues or lessen the impact of current products or services on the environment.
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Health & Safety is of paramount importance to all businesses. As an increasingly regulated area, every employer must comply with health and safety
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