On the world stage

Following last year’s three-way merger CMS became the world’s fifth largest firm by headcount with more than 1,000 partners and 4,500 lawyers operating in 74 offices across 42 countries. 

Here in Scotland, where more than 400 CMS colleagues are based in our Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen offices, the enlarged size and scale of our firm is adding real value to the clients we service. Whether they are a large organisation, a fledgling start-up with growth ambitions or an established SME business operating solely within the Scottish marketplace, our clients have access to the in depth knowledge and experience that lies across the wider firm. 

Building on the 250 year legacy of Dundas & Wilson, which joined forces with CMS in 2014, our offering in Scotland includes market-leading expertise with international scale supported by significant investment in the innovative use of technology. We constantly look for opportunities to apply these attributes in a way which supports our clients, particularly in those industry sectors which are key to Scotland’s economic success. 

As CMS has expanded, we have increasingly shared the talents and expertise of the team in Scotland, engaging colleagues in a growing number of global mandates. We are also tapping into the firm’s investment in thought leadership around some of the big issues facing our clients regardless of where they are located – from artificial intelligence to risk, resilience and reputation.

Our sector focus is at the heart of how we organise ourselves and how we think. We have internationally renowned expertise in sectors which are core to developing Scotland’s potential on a global stage, including life sciences, food & drink, financial services, energy and tourism.

As well as enabling the firm to bring even greater levels of sector expertise to the marketplace, the growth of CMS means we are better placed than ever to further support Scottish businesses. Earlier this year we launched our equIP programme, an initiative aimed at helping IP rich start-ups in Scotland scale up and maximise their full potential. Developed globally by CMS, equIP has already been successful in supporting businesses in London, Singapore and Dubai. We are confident it will also benefit and inspire our thriving community of entrepreneurs and young businesses here in Scotland. 

We are very proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusion. It’s one of the top reasons our talented people give for why they choose to join CMS and develop their careers with us. We enthusiastically support events such as Glasgow Pride and we were delighted to recently announce our sponsorship of the 2018 Sleep in the Park in aid of homeless people in Scotland.

We are also committed to supporting the wider community in Scotland through a range of activities including our annual bursary scheme. This year we provided financial support to two young aspiring Scottish law students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Just as the combination between CMS and Dundas & Wilson has delivered a sum much greater than its parts, the global rise of the firm also continues to bring benefits to our clients, our people and the communities where we operate in Scotland.

The article featured in the Times LegalScot Supplement, November 2018.