Fifth lateral hire for CMS London as key partner joins Corporate team

CMS is continuing its rapid growth in London with the appointment of partner Jonathan Woolf to the firm’s Corporate team. He joins CMS from BP plc where he was Managing Counsel of BP’s M&A Legal team since 2010.

Jonathan has particular expertise in M&A in the oil and gas sector, including upstream and midstream/downstream work, financial sponsors and a variety of other industry sectors. Previously, Jonathan practised with Linklaters in London and Hong Kong, and thus brings considerable expertise and in-depth market knowledge of the oil and gas business to the team. His international oil and gas experience extends to Azerbaijan, Malaysia, South Africa, Venezuela, Vietnam and China and his credentials will bolster the firm’s growing international oil and gas practice.

Charles Currier, Head of the CMS Corporate Group, comments: “Jonathan is a great addition to the team, bringing with him considerable M&A experience in the oil and gas sector which perfectly complements our global offering. Jonathan’s appointment adds to our significant bench strength and ability to handle the largest and most complex matters for our global energy clients.”

Jonathan, adds, “I am excited to be joining CMS, the market leading energy law practice, at what is a time of challenge and change in the sector. I look forward to being a part of CMS’ growing Oil & Gas M&A team.”

Jonathan’s appointment is the latest in a string of significant hires for CMS in London. Jason Brooks and Thomas Lockely joined the Financial Services & Products team as partners earlier this month, while Competition partner Satyen Dhana and Counsel Susann Altkemper joined the firm in September 2015.