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International Fund Structuring Law Firm

CMS offers expert advice at every stage of the funds lifecycle – from planning and launch through governance, restructuring and exit.

The international funds industry is changing at unprecedented speed. Concerns about the environment, sustainability and governance are changing the way many funds work and invest. Asset tokenisation, blockchain, fintech and artificial intelligence (AI) have huge disruptive potential, as do innovative alternative indirect investment vehicles and alternative asset classes. And, inevitably, the regulatory and tax environment for funds continues to evolve.

Whether you are launching, operating, lending to or investing in a fund or an alternative indirect investment vehicle, you need lawyers who have got your back, and who understand not only your business and your requirements, but also the funds landscape and its markets:

Sustainable Investment
ESG has disrupted the funds sector, yet it does impact it in many different ways. The issues that you face as investment funds manager or institutional investor depend on many factors: the evolution of the regulatory landscape; and the readiness of y
10/07/2023
Impact of AI & Technology on the Funds sector
AI & Technology are disrupting the investment funds sector, and laws and regulations are being amended to move towards a more digital environment for financial institutions, asset managers and investors.
06/10/2022
Risk, Resilience and Reputation Webinar Series
We are launching a tailored training programme focusing on specific topics relevant to participants in the international funds industry focused on Risk, Resilience and Reputation. Whether you are a fund manager or investor, our sessions will cover a
04/03/2024
CMS Expert Guide to popular investment vehicles
The selection of a vehicle has a number of common themes including the location of the assets, management and the investors. Funds targeted at local investors and markets will frequently involve suitable local vehicles. The position changes where the
Comparable
05/01/2024
CMS Expert Guide to private placement of funds rules and law
 When implementing the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”), some EU States have tightened or severely restricted their private placement regimes, which is important when non EU managers and funds look to access EU investors. Our
05/01/2024
CMS Expert Guide to AIFM passporting
 The EU Commission promoted passporting rights as one of the key benefits for hedge, private equity, real estate and other alternative investment fund managers authorised under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”). How­ever, we
29/12/2023
CMS Expert Guide to UCITS passporting
 The UCITS Directive was established to harmonise retail collective investment schemes in the EU through the introduction of a common investment vehicle known as a “UCITS”. One of the key benefits of the UCITS Directive is that UCITS can be establish
05/07/2023
Back to Basics briefings - New briefing added!
CMS Funds Group Back to Basics briefings intend to provide high level insights regarding funds fundamentals, funds vehicles and operational considerations New briefings are published on a regular basis, covering a specific jurisdiction or topic, and providing basic essential technical explanations.

A complete service

  • We advise on all the key asset classes, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, hedge, venture capital and debt, as well as across private, listed and authorised funds
  • Our expertise is allied with industry specialism, including energy, real estate, life sciences and healthcare, hotels and leisure, infrastructure and project finance and financial institutions
  • We offer clients a ‘one-stop shop’ service, leveraging various CMS practices such as tax, regulatory, private equity, venture capital, real estate, technology, employment, dispute resolution and finance
  • Our real estate funds practice advises on some of the market’s largest fundraisings, clubs and indirect investments
  • We are the market leader for REITs and closed-ended listed funds, with our team advising on IPOs, private REITs and secondary fund raisings
  • We have a stand-out open-ended and UCITS funds offering.

Industry players

  • Our lawyers play a leading role in complex conversations – such as the role of tokenisation and AI – which are shaping the future of the funds sector
  • Through our strong ties with industry organisations (IPF, AREF, INREV, BCO, BPF, LPeC, BVCA, EPRA, IA, and ABBL) we are at the forefront of conversations on the most pressing topics affecting the international and local funds industries.

A global reach

Our clients entrust us with exclusive mandates to advise their multi-manager teams on their investments globally. We have over 130 specialised funds lawyers in core funds jurisdictions:

Other jurisdictions we are active in: Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Poland, Norway, Romania, Ukraine, US regulatory.

Work credentials

 The quality of our work is recognised by awards, rankings, and landmark deals such as:

  • 20 Rankings in Legal 500 and Chambers, including Tier 1 for Real Estate Investments Funds (UK), Retail Investment Funds (UK), Investment Funds (Scotland), and Investment Funds (Poland)
  • 1st French fund invested in crypto assets
  • 1st real estate club-deal through blockchain in Europe
  • 1st corporate venture capital fund in Poland to commercialise new tech startups
  • 1st Italian credit fund specialised in the business of trade receivables
  • Adviser to innovation projects submitted to the 1st Spanish sandbox
  • Affiliate of the Year Award 2019 - AREF (Association of Real Estate Funds)

CMS Funds Group is getting recognition as a top tier funds firm in Europe and Asia, growing globally by providing a “one international firm” coordinated, consistently excellent funds platform.

Find out more

CMS Funds Group Directory rankings

CMS Funds Global Brochure

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30/06/2021
CMS Funds Market Study 2021
Periodically, CMS takes soundings on the state of the market from our funds-related clients. Given the unprecedented nature of the last 12 months we thought this was an opportune time to look back over the last few years. This study analyses the key market trends in fund documentation of over 300 funds established in Europe, Asia, USA and offshore jurisdictions advised on by CMS offices throughout 2017 to 2020. We have also conducted client interviews, which are highlighted in this report, and conducted a selective survey of our international client base. We trust this CMS Funds Market Study will be a useful guide for both managers and investors this year. The size of our deal sample and the range of countries involved means that the study should be a uniquely valuable and rich resource for managers and investors. Our research indicates that funds industry players are clear on how to move forward and that, while strategies may have shifted, there are reasons for optimism and bullishness, unlike the gloom that descended after the global financial crisis in 2008. Looking forward we see an active funds market, with Luxembourg being the jurisdiction of choice for European funds. ESG is now a key focus for investors. This market impetus and regulatory drivers are moving sustainable investment from a niche focus into the mainstream for investors and managers alike. We also see managers increasingly looking at the benefits and impact of AI and technology with the tokenisation of assets and the use of blockchain. We see this pace of change accelerating. If you have any feedback or questions, we would love to hear from you.
Sustainable Investment
SFDR – Are you ready?

Feed

21/03/2024
Green derivatives demystified: Legal insights into sustainable finance
Join us for an insightful webinar as we explore the future of finance, focusing on sustainable investment and carbon offsetting strategies to support your business decisions. This webinar will be of particular value for project investment bankers, private equity investors, and companies in the energy and large manufacturing sectors, looking to enhance their strategies with sustainable and financially savvy solutions. The webinar will cover the following topics and will conclude with a Q&A ses­sion:Sus­tain­ab­il­ity-linked derivatives (SLD)Financial power purchase agree­ments­Man­dat­ory carbon offset: EU emission al­low­ances­Vol­un­tary carbon offset
15/03/2024
CMS Expert Guide on Real Estate Data Centre Consenting
Welcome to CMS’ online guide tool for data centre legal consenting considerations. Please use the tool to compare legal consenting considerations for data centre development and investment across key...
Comparable
07/03/2024
Practical guidance on how to assess the existence of aid for risk financing...
On 26 January 2024, the Commission adopted practical guidance for Member States on assessing the existence of State aid for measures aimed at facilitating access to financing for certain busi­nesses.Risk...
06/03/2024
Spring Budget 2024 – key tax announcements
Against the backdrop of an election (probably) later this year, the Chancellor was evidently feeling the pressure to make tax announcements that would find favour with the electorate, whilst constrained...
06/03/2024
FCA sends Dear CEO letter to firms in warning over money laundering failings
The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has sent a Dear CEO letter (the “Letter”) to Annex 1 Firms warning them about common failings found in their ability to prevent money laundering, terrorist...
04/03/2024
CMS Expert Guide to popular investment vehicles
The selection of a vehicle has a number of common themes including the location of the assets, management and the investors. Funds targeted at local investors and markets will frequently involve suitable...
Comparable
29/02/2024
UK FCA proposals to publicly announce investigations could be detrimental...
With every new director of enforcement and market oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), there is a step change in the way the regulator approaches enforcement cases.Under the FCA's former...
29/02/2024
Amendments to Directive 2011/61/EU on alternative investment fund managers...
On 26 February 2024, the Council of the European Union officially approved amendments to Directive 2011/61/EU on alternative investment fund managers (read more), marking a significant development in...
20/02/2024
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023: changes expected to...
From Spring 2024 we expect the role of Companies House and the Registrar of Companies (Registrar) to change significantly from simply incorporating companies and being a largely passive information recipient...
20/02/2024
Listing Act: provisional agreement reached between the EP and the Council
IntroductionOn 7 December 2022, the European Commission (EC) submitted a package of measures known as the “Listing Act” (the Act), aiming at making public markets more attractive for European Union...
19/02/2024
Financial Services Webinars On Demand
Use the below link to view recordings of CMS financial services we­binars avail­able on de­mand. We­binars are a convenient way to stay informed and hear from our legal ex­perts. me­di­um 
13/02/2024
The EU Parliament and Council reached an agreement on ESG rating
On 5 February 2024, the European Parliament (the Parliament) and the Council of the European Union (the Council) reached a provisional agreement on the EU Commission's proposal from June 2023 for a regulation...