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Infrastructure & Projects

As a sponsor, lender or public sector organisation, you require legal advisers who can help you successfully handle complex infrastructure and project financing transactions. Whether you are involved in public works programmes or private sector financing in the areas of transport, health, education, waste, energy, defence, IT/telecoms, leisure, custodial and justice, ports, rail, roads or water, you will get the legal advice you need from us.

Our secondary market lawyers have helped shape the PPP projects sector, ensuring quick deal completions on terms that optimise your returns. If you are facing a potential dispute, we can also support you through dispute resolution procedures or litigation action.

We have delivered deals with a combined value of more than GBP 16bn in the UK alone, advising on public private partnerships, construction and services, infrastructure investment, development and corporate finance. 

"The CMS team are experts in their respective fields. They break down complex matters and provide commercial support and solutions in a client-friendly manner."

Chambers, 2024

"CMS provides good coordination and support during long processes."

Chambers, 2024

"The transaction involved a wide variety of very complex legal and structural considerations, which the CMS team handled very well."

Chambers, 2024

"The partners at CMS have very strong sector knowledge and provide extensive practical advice to complement the legal analysis."

Chambers, 2024

"The firm offered great client service and commercial awareness."

Chambers, 2024

"The team has excellent experience in dealing with complex and sophisticated matters in a professional and timely manner and delivers to client's expectations."

Chambers, 2024

"The team offer direct legal advice when sought, which any new client would benefit from."

Legal 500, 2024

"The CMS team is exceptional, with a thorough sector understanding. They take the time to improve their knowledge by visiting sites and appreciating the nuance of each individual project."

Legal 500, 2024

"CMS always provide a very collaborative approach to commercial matters, ensuring areas of contention were resolved to our satisfaction."

Legal 500, 2022

"Paul Smith is an excellent partner and communicator. His experience as a chartered surveyor gives him a depth of knowledge in the sector others could only dream of. His proactive and pragmatic approach mean projects constantly move forward, no matter which side of the table he is sat."

Legal 500, 2024

"There is a sense of partnership when working on complex projects that is greatly appreciated, and deadlines are always met."

Legal 500, 2024

"The practice is led by an intelligent and resourceful partner (Fraser Askham) but works together well as a team. It is clear that the strength of the team is that they enjoy working together, even under onerous deadlines."

Legal 500, 2024

"CMS are always exceptionally professional and give that little extra when required."

Legal 500, 2024

"Personnel are open to discussion to explore alternative views and respond quickly to requests for information and clarification as to requirements."

Legal 500, 2024

"Large inclusive team that collaborated well with each other and the wider team."

Legal 500, 2024

"CMS understands the oil and gas and energy markets very well. They always provide pragmatic, commercially astute advice in all matters."

Chambers, 2023

"CMS are excellent at understanding and advising on complicated and sophisticated matters."

Chambers, 2023

"This is my go to team for projects of both a complex and simple nature across different infrastructure sectors. The advice and assistance through all stages of projects, initiation to close, is first class."

Legal 500, 2024

"CMS draws specialist teams in with ease."

Chambers, 2023

"I can always rely on CMS to provide timely responses and regular updates on progress."

Chambers, 2023

"We always receive a good, reliable and personable service from CMS."

Chambers, 2023

"The team has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legal and commercial framework."

Chambers, 2023

"CMS consistently demonstrates their ability to tackle difficult issues with due consideration to all stakeholders."

Chambers, 2023

"They're approachable people who can break down complex situations into manageable issues."

Chambers, 2023

"CMS provides a high-quality, full and dedicated service with a deep understanding of most legal disciplines and jurisdictions."

Chambers, 2023

"I always receive a reliable and personable service from CMS."

Chambers, 2023

"The team provides a commercial and cost effective solution to complex legal negotiations."

Legal 500, 2023

"A great team with a broad base of experience to draw upon."

Legal 500, 2023

"Provided strong leadership during the commercial stages, supportive approaches to help address client concerns, and a dedicated resource to ensure key program challenges were met. All of this have ensured a robust, well-challenged and documented commercial conclusion, ensuring that our interests always came first."

Legal 500, 2023

"Over the past 15 years or so this practice has undertaken a number of major transport projects including the Edinburgh Tram."

Legal 500, 2023

"This is a really strong, solid team."

Legal 500, 2023

"They have good strength in depth. Paul Smith and Jon Dames are both very good partners but they also have a bunch of very able associates as well and that is not my experience at every firm."

Legal 500, 2023

"A team with depth, experience, professional knowledge and a very approachable style."

Legal 500, 2023

"Experienced and knowledgeable across the sector – they keep up with what is going on."

Legal 500, 2023

"The CMS team have depth and strength across a key number of sectors and specialisms that can be relied upon to deliver in circumstances that are often challenging. Without doubt my go to organisation when looking at new and challenging projects."

Legal 500, 2022

"The CMS team has a can-do attitude, providing a balanced and considered opinion to get deals agreed."

Legal 500, 2022

"The team as a whole is friendly, efficient and made up of good lawyers. They are an excellent choice for complex construction matters."

Legal 500, 2022

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Aviation
Our international aviation practice – made up of specialist aviation finance, leasing, M&A, insurance and dispute lawyers – advises on
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Infrastructure Funds
There is a growing demand from institutional and other investors for opportunities to invest in infrastructure assets. Specialist infrastructure-focus
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Infrastructure M&A
Global interest in infrastructure investments is growing, thanks to the generally stable nature of the asset class, new opportunities through disposal
Ports
CMS has a truly international team with an unrivalled track record of working on some of the most complex and innovative port projects in the UK and i
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PPP/PFI Operational Support
Providing operational support to infrastructure projects. We understand the importance of preserving the relationships of the parties as much as possi
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Primary Markets
As traditional sources of capital for public sector infrastructure projects become more constrained, the public and private sector are seeking out dif
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Secondary Markets
Our PFI/PPP Secondary Markets Infrastructure Team advises buyers and sellers, including sponsors and specialised infrastructure and pension funds, on
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Shipping and Maritime
The maritime sector plays a pivotal role in the global economy, transporting people and goods around the world. . CMS supports a dynamic and comp
Law-Now: Infrastructure & Projects
Visit Law-Now for legal know-how and commentary
07/12/2023
COP28: how the law can unite, act and deliver the UN SDGs
The law, and the work of lawyers, should enable countries, communities and companies to deliver the changes needed to achieve the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement. As COP28 urges us to unite, act and deliver, Advocates for International Development (A
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13/03/2024
Supreme Court grants permission for URS appeal in landmark construction...
The Supreme Court has granted permission for URS Corporation Ltd to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 772. The Supreme Court...
12/03/2024
Significant steps taken to implement Early Competition in onshore transmission...
On 20th February 2024 the Electricity (Criteria for Relevant Electricity Projects) (Transmission) Regulations (the “Reg­u­la­tions”) were published. Due to come into force on 12th March 2024, the Regulations...
27/02/2024
Highlights of our experience in PPP/ PFI Operational Support in the UK
Healthcare: a portfolio of healthcare projects We currently advise on over 40 acute healthcare PPP/PFI projects in their operational phase in­clud­ing: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool; QEH Birmingham...
23/02/2024
The CBAM – what is it and how will it affect the market?
Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) entered into force on 17 May 2023. The implementation of the CBAM has been divided into a transitional period (from 1...
23/02/2024
Scottish wildcat group’s challenge to windfarm permission unsuccessful
Wildcat Haven, a community interest company, sought to challenge the decision of the Scottish Ministers to grant permission for construction of a new wind farm at Clashindarroch Forest in Aberdeenshire...
20/02/2024
Court of Appeal confirms position on damages for breach of public procurement...
The much anticipated judgment in the Braceurself appeal has been handed down by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal (led by LJ Coulson) has reaffirmed the position established by the High Court that...
12/02/2024
Biodiversity Net Gain comes into force - what does it mean for you?
It has been over 2 years since the concept of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was introduced  by the Environment Act 2021. After months of delay, today the provisions finally come into force. It...
06/02/2024
Discussing Dennis: Breaking into planning jail - A new JR ruling on the...
Another case has recently emerged on the vexed question of the compatibility of subsequent planning permissions for development on the same site.  In R (Dennis) v London Borough of Southwark[1], (“Den­nis”)...
05/02/2024
Government consultation on requirement for information about contractual...
Summary The Government has launched a consultation on new regulations which will require the provision of certain information about agreements used to control registered land in England and Wales, intended...
05/02/2024
Seeing the wood for the trees: Government updates Consultation Direction...
On 26 January, the Government introduced a new duty requiring local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State regarding developments that impact ancient woodland. For many years, a direction...
31/01/2024
TMT World Congress 2024
CMS lawyers are pleased to be attending the TMT World Congress 2024 held in London on 31 January - 01 February. Below you can find an overview of our attending partners, representing a large range of jurisdictions and practice areas. To arrange a meeting, please contact the individual lawyers directly. Additionally, Anne Chitan will moderate the M&A Panel - Assessing what’s next for Transactions amid Continued Macro Headwinds, Wednesday 31 January (10:55 – 11:35). At CMS, we have some of Europe’s leading legal specialists in the technology, media and communications sector. Our Digital Communications Infrastructure Team combines exceptional expertise in project and structured finance, competition regulation and large-scale investment, while our market-leading tele­com­mu­nic­a­tions team has decades of experience in the technology and communications space, including strong expertise in the areas of fibre, towers, subsea cables, network sharing, data centres and satellite. To find out more about CMS Digital Communications Infrastructure cap­ab­il­it­ies, vis­it our Digital Communications Infrastructure section. For further information, please see our partners attending the congress in the gallery below and an overview of all our expertise areas.
29/01/2024
Carbon Assessments and Infrastructure – Implications for Government planning...
On 4 February 2021, the Scottish Government (“SG”) published its Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 (“IIP”).  In September 2023, the SG admitted that it was in breach...