International Banking and Finance Law Firm

CMS lawyers are pleased to be attending the ITechLaw European Conference 2024 held in Munich on 30 October - 1 November. Below you can find our top tips for those visiting Munich for the conference, helpfully provided by our Technology lawyers based in the Munich office:Munich (Germany) is the capital of Bavaria. It is a city strongly influenced by Bavarian traditions and rich in history and culture. Many people refer to Munich as the northernmost city in Italy. This is due to the mild summer climate, a touch of Mediterranean flair and the short geographical distance to Italy. Some Facts: Distances:From Munich to the Italian border = 180 Km (approx. 112 miles)From Munich to Hamburg = 770KM (approx. 480 miles)From Munich to Berlin (580 KM (approx. 360 miles)Pop­u­la­tion:1.589.706 inhabitants (2024). The third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Ham­burgThe city's metropolitan region is home to about 6.2 million people and the third biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Uni­on­Re­com­men­ded:Art and Culture: Munich boasts world-class museums, galleries, and theaters. Visit the Alte Pinakothek for art lovers, the Deutsches Museum for science enthusiasts, and catch a performance at the Bavarian State Opera. Rich History: Munich is steeped in history, from its medieval origins to its role as the capital of Bavaria. Explore iconic landmarks like Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the historic city gates. Green Spaces: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city in Munich's expansive green spaces. Relax in the English Garden, one of the largest urban parks in the world, or explore the botanical wonders of the Botanical Garden. Transportation: Munich's efficient public transportation system makes it easy to navigate the city. Utilize the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses (the easiest way to buy tickets is via MVV app), or explore by bike along the city's extensive network of cycling paths. Day Trips: Take advantage of Munich's central location to explore nearby attractions. Embark on day trips to the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, the picturesque town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or the charming villages of the Bavarian Alps. English-friendly Destination: While German is the official language, English is widely spoken and understood in Munich. Visitors can easily communicate with locals and navigate the city without language barriers. Safety and Cleanliness: Munich is known for its safety and cleanliness. Enjoy peace of mind as you explore the city's streets, parks, and attractions. Beer Culture: Munich is synonymous with beer, particularly during Oktoberfest. Experience Bavarian beer culture at traditional beer gardens like Hofbräuhaus and Au­gustin­er-Keller. Bavarian Cuisine: Indulge in hearty Bavarian dishes such as weißwurst (white sausage), pretzels, schnitzel, and sauerkraut. Don't miss out on trying traditional Bavarian delicacies at local restaurants and beer gardens e.g. Hofbräuhaus. Not re­com­men­ded:Trav­el­ling without cash: Don’t forget cash (there are still many local markets and smaller establishments that don't accept credit cards in Munich). Late hour shopping: Don't expect 24/7 shopping (unlike most major cities, Munich has strict shopping hours, and the shops close at 8pm on weekdays). Ordering the wrong beer: Don’t order a “Pilsener (Pils)”, always order a “Helles”. Ordering Bavarian wines: Why order a wine from Franken (a famous wine region in Bavaria) if you can order a French or Italian wine? Or at least a decent wine from the Rheingau; Pflalz or Mosel. Feeding the pigeons: Feeding pigeons is not allowed in and around Munich. Walking on bike lanes: Munich is full of bikers and there are many bike lanes. Please be aware that there might be a lot of traffic on the bike lanes and watch out for speedy bikers when you are a pedestrian. At CMS, we are proud to have some of the leading global legal specialists in the technology, media and communications sector. Fuelled by huge customer demand for cutting-edge products and increased supply of pioneering services, the sectors of technology, media and communications are each undergoing unprecedented change. Innovation is key, and so tech and telecoms suppliers, and creators and distributors of media, need to protect their investments and maximise their commercial opportunities. At CMS, our global team of over 1000 specialist Technology, Media and Communications (TMC) lawyers has been exposed to virtually every risk and challenge you face. With our long-standing focus on advising players, users, regulators and financiers in the sector, we are best placed to deliver innovative solutions through our award-winning disputes, transactions, IP, commercial, data privacy and security, employment and tax practices. To find out more about our capabilities across TMC, please visit International TMC webpage.

CMS lawyers are pleased to be attending the ITechLaw World Technology Law Conference 2024 held in Washington on 8-10 May. 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. At CMS, we are proud to have some of the leading global legal specialists in the technology, media and communications sector. At CMS, our global team of over 1000 specialist Technology, Media and Communications (TMC) lawyers has been exposed to virtually every risk and challenge you face. With our long-standing focus on advising players, users, regulators and financiers in the sector, we are best placed to deliver innovative solutions through our award-winning disputes, transactions, IP, commercial, data privacy and security, employment and tax practices. To find out more about our capabilities across TMC, please visit International TMC webpage. For further information, please see our partners attending the congress in the gallery below and an overview of all our expertise areas.

We're delighted to announce the launch of our third season of international webinars focusing on financial regulation, starting on 13 March 2024. Whether you are an in-house lawyer, compliance officer, financial analyst, risk manager, or any other professional concerned with maintaining the integrity of your organisation's financial practices, this series offers succinct 20-30 minute overviews of key industry trends and regulatory concerns across mul­tiple jur­is­dic­tions. If you have any additional topics that you would like us to add or address at one of the webinars, please contact us. Upcoming Webinars: 16 April: Handling a regulatory in­vest­ig­a­tion  How a firm can understand the regulator’s concerns and manage the investigation process.8 May: Financial crime  Sanc­tions, money laundering, market abuse and fraud - what are the key issues in your jurisdiction and what are the regulators focusing on.5 June: Preparing for a regulatory visit  How the banking regulator assesses a firm’s systems and controls: what to prepare and what to look out for.3 July: Handling a challenging ap­plic­a­tion  Your application for a licence, product approval or change in control is meeting with regulatory resistance.  How can you surmount these challenges?31 July: Dawn Raids  Un­an­nounced regulator visits are on the increase.  We look at what triggers a dawn raid, your rights if one happens, and how best to manage the consequences.4 September: Navigating the global ESG land­scape Is the regulatory reporting jigsaw puzzle causing more harm than good? We will provide an overview of the main cross-border issues impacting global financial institutions as they seek to manage ever expanding ESG regulations and discuss whether these rules are helping or hindering the action we need for change. The language of the webinar will be English.