Facts & Figures
Established: July 1999
Member firms: 10
Partners: > 750
Lawyers: > 2,800
Total staff: > 5,000
Jurisdictions present: 30
Cities present: 49
Offices: 55
History
- CMS was established on July 1, 1999 with the objective to create a professional multi-jurisdictional legal and tax service organisation, headquartered in Europe.
- The founders included the UK, German, Austrian, Dutch and Belgian firms.
- In 2000, Swiss firm Von Erlach Klainguti Stettler Wille joined CMS.
- In 2001, French firm Bureau Francis Lefebvre joined CMS.
- In 2002, Italian firm Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni joined CMS.
- In 2005, Spanish firm Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo joined CMS.
- In 2005, Belgian firm CMS Lexcelis merged with DeBacker creating CMS DeBacker. Later that year, CMS von Erlach Klainguti Stettler Wille merged with Henrici, Wicki & Guggisberg creating CMS von Erlach Henrici.
- In 2008, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz merged with the prominent corporate law firm Dallmann & Juranek.
- In 2009, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre, CMS Cameron McKenna and CMS Hasche Sigle merged their operations in Moscow creating CMS Russia. This merger creates one of the most experienced and largest international law firms in Russia with over 130 lawyers, including 26 partners.
- From 1 January 2012 - CMS has agreed that Portuguese law firm Rui Pena, Arnaut & Associados (RPA) will become a member of CMS. The firm will be called CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut (CMS RPA).