CMS revenues in 2024 exceed EUR 2bn

CMS has announced revenues for the financial year January-December 2024 of 2.073 billion euros representing a year-on-year growth rate of 5,9%.

Pierre-Sébastien Thill, CMS Chairman: "We're pleased that in 2024, the year in which we celebrated our 25th anniversary, we continued on our growth path. In today's fast-paced business environment, it's not just about providing expert legal advice and innovative service delivery, but also about being agile in tackling various challenges that affect both our business and that of our clients. Our numbers reflect our ability to meet these market demands, all thanks to the dedication and forward-thinking approach of our people as well as the trust of our clients."

The biggest contributor to revenue growth in 2024 was the corporate practice. Other areas of high growth included the dispute resolution, real estate, tax, employment and banking practices. 

Expanding into new markets

In 2024, CMS continued strengthening its presence in key regions.

• Following an onboarding period, the top-ten Swedish law firm Wistrand formally became CMS Wistrand.
• Mauritian-based firm Prism Chambers joined CMS as an associate firm of CMS Africa.
• CMS opened a representative office in Silicon Valley (US) that focuses on business development and marketing activities.  

Duncan Weston, CMS Executive Partner: “At CMS, we are committed to providing our clients with the high-quality legal services they need to grow and protect their businesses. Our strategic expansion through new member firms, expanding the reach of existing ones and building strong partnerships has contributed significantly to our success. Equally important though, is our global mindset and our ability to balance global and local work while maintaining an intercultural focus.”

With 91 offices in 50 countries, CMS provides quality advice and service delivery to clients in key business hubs around the world. 

Strengthening leadership 

At the end of 2024, Hubertus Kolster, Senior Partner at CMS Germany, was named Vice-Chairman of the CMS Executive Committee, and is responsible for driving key global initiatives and projects. He joins Pierre-Sébastien Thill (Chairman), Duncan Weston (Executive Partner) and Isabel Scholes (Executive Director) in the CMS Executive Team. 

All CMS lawyers work in cross-border groups that are structured according to the industries in which CMS’s clients operate. In 2024, CMS announced new (co-)heads for five of its international practices and sector groups:

• Sam De Silva (London) – CMS Commercial Group
• Gaël Chuffart (Brussels) and Daniela Krömer (Vienna) – CMS Employment Group
• Sarah Hanson (London) and Roland Wiring (Hamburg) – CMS Life Sciences & Healthcare Group
• Virginie Dor (Brussels) – CMS Public Procurement Group
•  Jacob Siebert (Hamburg) – CMS Private Equity Group

In 2024, there were 54 partner promotions across CMS. The new partners were based in 17 countries around the world. Women accounted for almost 41% of the promotions. 

Isabel Scholes, CMS Executive Director: “Strong leadership is crucial for our success. Attracting and retaining top professionals with the skills to manage complex transactions and provide exceptional service is key. Especially in the age of AI, human skills are vital and we are committed to nurturing leaders who can deliver effective strategies and foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity and sustainability. These traits are essential for preparing our clients and CMS for the future.” 

Investing in the future

In 2024, CMS launched its L&D Charter that outlines CMS's commitment to the learning and development of its people. Through the CMS Academy training courses, lawyers at all stages of their careers are provided with opportunities to grow and develop their skills and knowledge. In particular, CMS’s Future Ready Leaders programme equips CMS leaders with the practical tools to articulate the organisation’s purpose, vision and strategy. 

CMS remains committed to being at the forefront of innovation, AI and legal tech. Key initiatives in 2024 included the ongoing roll-out of Harvey and Microsoft Copilot as well as trainings on artificial intelligence and legal tech.