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Scotland

Europe

Committed to supporting businesses in an ever-changing landscape

As legal advisers and business partners, we are continually adapting how we do business to help our clients find new ways to succeed at a time when the Scottish economy is facing significant challenges.  We focus on ways to mitigate risk and harness innovation to ensure your organisation can make the most of opportunities.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow based lawyers are firmly embedded in their local markets and have the resources and infrastructure of a global organisation behind them.  With over 500 people here, we are serious about Scotland.

We have an exceptionally strong focus on businesses in Scotland that include start-ups, government bodies, manufacturers and investors.  We also work with some of the largest organisations operating around the globe.  Clients often tell us that our genuine ability to assemble the right teams, wherever they are located, sets us apart from other firms.  The expertise of over 5000+ lawyers in over 40 countries cities can be mobilised quickly to create the best team for every situation.

Committed to building a more sustainable world

At CMS we are committed to building a more sustainable, prosperous future for all.  In 2018 we became one of the first law firms to commit to set Science Based Targets. We have a dedicated programme of initiatives in place to reduce our emissions 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, across the full Scope 1, 2 and 3. This includes our offices in Scotland which are powered by 100% renewable energy. We are committed to being Net Zero by 2050 at the latest and are in the process of setting a long-term Science-based Target.

ESG factors have moved from being a niche concern to a strategic board level priority across all sectors and jurisdictions. We’re working with our clients - from multinationals to start ups – to help support their commitments in this rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape. 

Committed to our people and communities

And we are clear that our business is a people business. We have a culture of authenticity and inclusivity, encouraging everyone to be 100% themselves.  

Our commitment to Responsible Business lies at the heart of the firm and our purpose is to inspire, impact and support our clients, people, industry sectors and communities.  We design and deliver a wide range of activities to ensure there is something for everyone to get involved in.  Just some of our activities in Scotland include:

Guiding all our work are the UN Global Goals and our commitment to the UN Global Compact.

Find out how CMS in Scotland can help your business by contacting us now

We are proud of our consistent top tier rankings in our key specialisms such as Corporate/Commercial/M&A, Banking & Finance, Real Estate, IP/IT, Telecoms, Energy/Power/Oil & Gas, Dispute Resolution, Life Sciences/Healthcare, Infrastructure/Projects, Public Sector, Education, Hospitality & Tourism and Transport.

Please contact one of our specialists below at any time:


Our Strategic Secondment Unit offers an experienced team of lawyers dedicated to directly support our client secondment requirements.  This unique approach offers Scottish clients a full-time, permanent CMS team of specialist lawyers with private practice experience across a range of sectors.  Find out more here.

You can also view our CMS Scotland brochure.

CMS Scotland brochure cover - picture of Forth Rail Bridge

 

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Spotlight Scotland - Event programme
Our spotlight series brings you a dedicated programme of events, both digital and in-person, around the issues and topics that matter to you. Join us to keep up to date with the latest developments in your area. You can find out more about our events and register below. You can also view our previous webinars on demand.
28/02/2024
On Point: Insight paper series
Navigating the business landscape in Scotland and beyond presents numerous challenges. From escalating costs to talent scarcity, evolving regulations, and technological advancements, alongside political uncertainties. At CMS Scotland, we are committed to working with our clients to support them with these complexities.
Fintech
Supporting Scotland's ecosystem

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13/06/2024
CMS Real Estate webinar: Repurposing the High Street for Life Sciences...
Candice Blackwood and Henrietta Oliver will share the key findings of our recent thought leadership piece about the transformation of the UK High Street, and the opportunities for life sciences and healthcare (including medical diagnostics) to fill the voids left by retailers.
12/06/2024
IP Updates in the Food & Drink Sector
Join our expert speakers for a webinar on IP developments in the Food & Drink sector with a particular focus on recent cases, north and south of the border.  The webinar will provide an overview of the...
Spotlight Scotland - Event programme
Our spotlight series brings you a dedicated programme of events, both digital and in-person, around the issues and topics that matter to you. Join us to keep up to date with the latest developments in your area. You can find out more about our events and register below. You can also view our previous webinars on demand.
20/05/2024
Skills For Future Facing Teams: How to have coaching conversations
CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams is our programme of leadership and business skills sessions  for in-house legal teams.  Coaching is an essential skill for leaders, regardless of seniority or experience levels.  This session is an introduction to - or perhaps a refresher on - the basics of coaching.  We'll look at:what coaching is - and what it's notthe roles of coach and coacheethe mindset for an effective coachthe skillset for an effective coacha reminder of tthe "GROW" coaching frameworkAs always, we'll provide practical tips, recommend further resources and answer your questions. 
30/04/2024
Class Action Risk in the Food and Drink Sector
Class action claims are a reality and are only growing in number. The risks to food producers and suppliers come in many forms, whether it be employees, consumers or even shareholders. In this session...
29/04/2024
Skills For Future Facing Teams: Contract negotiation - Top 10 Tips and...
In this session we will share our Top Ten Tips & Tactics to use when negotiating. We will use a relatable but fairly  "all-purpose" scenario to illustrate how to apply the techniques and approaches when negotiating a commercial contract.  You will learn:how to adopt an assertive and collaborative approach to support you  to achieve the best outcomehow to prepare effectively ahead of a negotiation conversationThe facilitators will bring the topic to life using forum theatre - and you the participants will have the opportunity to critique and  improve their performance from the comfort of your desk!In this session we will focus on how to apply negotiation techniques - we won't be covering substantive legal points or tips on specific types of contracts.
18/04/2024
In View: Life Sciences & Healthcare - What's new in AI Regulation and Data...
 We are delighted to invite you to the CMS In View: Life Sciences & Healthcare - What’s New in AI Regulation and Data Protection? event taking place on Thursday 18 April at our London Cannon Place offices. The seminar will focus on key AI and data protection topics relevant to life sciences and healthcare where you will hear from industry and regulatory experts and CMS specialists. If you would like to attend this event, please register via the button below.
28/03/2024
CMS Skills For Future Facing Teams: Articulating value and effective reporting...
This is the third and final session in our Legal Project Leadership seriesAre you perceived as a business blocker or a business enabler? A business partner or a reactive adviser? It can be challenging for in-house legal teams to get their true value across to the business. This session aims to help you overcome some of these challenges and misconceptions by improving the way you communicate with stakeholders about the projects you are leading.   In particular we will explore how to:bridge the gap between legal and the businessdefine and communicate the value of projectsreport on and communicate progress in a way that engages stakeholders - leading to improved relationships and better results!
21/03/2024
Construction Focus 2024
The CMS Scotland Construction team invites you to Construction Focus 2024, our annual construction law review taking place in our Glasgow office. During this in-person session, we will review the latest construction law developments, consider the key issues, and provide practical insight on market trends. This will in­clude:Prac­tic­al implications of the continued rise in ESG Re­quire­ments­Man­age­ment of Fluctuation Provisions and Inflation in Con­tractsLe­gis­lat­ive Changes Affecting Con­struc­tion­Please join us for networking drinks following the session, even if you are unable to make it to the seminar. Please register using the button below so that we can ensure there's enough space and refreshments for everyone. We look forward to welcoming you!  
21/03/2024
Risk Essentials: What's next in digital assets disputes?
 Digital assets disputes have opened with a bang in 2024. The hotly-an­ti­cip­ated Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig White "identity issue" trial has packed a super court and an overspill court at the Rolls Building, with another 400+ people following it online. In this session, Vanessa Whitman and Rachel Harrison from our FS & Crypto Disputes team look at how the courts are dealing with the unique legal challenges presented by digital assets. They will look back at the key decisions of 2023 before forecasting what else will be on the agenda in 2024 and beyond. To register for the event, please click the button below.
19/03/2024
CMS Advertising & Marketing Conference
We would like to welcome you to our 2024 CMS Advertising & Marketing Conference on Tuesday 19 March, providing updates on legal and regulatory issues affecting the sector. We’re delighted to be joined...
15/03/2024
CMS advises on UK BESS financing
International law firm CMS has advised Harmony Energy Income Trust plc (HEIT), which invests in battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Great Britain, in relation to the refinancing of its existing debt...