The CMS international network has this year made up 39 lawyers to partner across Europe and the Middle East, including 10 in the UK and with women accounting for over 46% of total promotions.
The promotions were made across multiple practice areas, with corporate taking the lion’s share with eight promotions, followed by six in real estate and five in disputes, four each in employment and energy, and the remaining spread among banking and finance, commercial, competition & EU, restructuring and insolvency, insurance, maritime, public procurement and tax.
In the UK, real estate was the main focus with four partners being made up in the practice area plus two each in disputes and energy and one in both employment and insurance.
The figures mark a notable increase on last year’s 30-strong round, which included just five in the UK. It nonetheless constitutes a drop on 2012’s number of 50.
The promotions are made within the firm’s sprawling network and regions in this year’s promotions round includes the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Formed in 1999, the original network group comprised Cameron McKenna, Hasche Sigle in Germany, Derks Star Busmann in the Netherlands, DeBacker in Belgium, Rui Pena & Arnaut in Portugal and Reich-Rohrwig Hainz in Austria – which then quickly expanded to include Swiss practice Von Erlach Klainguti Stettler Wille in 2000; French tax specialist Bureau Francis Lefebvre (BFL) in 2001; Italy’s Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni in 2002; and Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo in Spain in 2005. Cameron McKenna further absorbed beleaguered Scots firm Dundas & Wilson in 2013.
On the promotions, senior partner Penelope Warne said: ‘We are delighted to welcome these talented individuals to the partnership. These promotions were made across a number of areas, and reflect the talent and commitment of our lawyers as we grow the firm internationally. We are proud that seven of the 10 partners in the UK are women, reinforcing our strong commitment to diversity.’
CMS chair Cornelius Brandi added: ‘The naming of 39 new partners is a clear indication that CMS is continuing on its course of growth and expansion. With over 800 lawyers in total in 59 locations, we have a very strong position in the international legal market.’
Others to confirm partner promotions includes Taylor Wessing which yesterday (20 April) announced five lawyers were being made up to partner in its UK round, while Wragge Laurence Graham & Co promoted six.
Partner promotions across CMS for 2015 include:
Banking & International Finance
Marlous de Groot, Netherlands
Cristina Reichmann, Romania
Corporate
Alexandre Delhaye, France
Anela Musat, CEE
Christian Delgado, Netherlands
Clair Wermers, Netherlands
Clemens Grossmayer, Austria
Jakub Marcinkowski, Poland
John O’Connor, United Arab Emirates
Patrik Przyhoda, Czech Republic
Commercial
Alexis Hallemans, Belgium
Ellen Gielen, Netherlands
Competition & EU
Claire Vannini, France
Edmon Oude Elferink, Belgium
Dispute Resolution
Alison Gow, UK
Cristina Coto, Spain
Luis Javier Vidal Calvo, Spain
Reto Hunsperger, Switzerland
Sarah Grenfell, UK
Employment
Caroline Froger-Michon, France
Daniel Ludwig, Germany
Gillian MacLellan, UK
Sören Langner, Germany
Energy, Environment, Projects and Construction
Ben Ewing, Oman
Christine Worthington, UK
Iga Lis, Poland
Valerie Allan, UK
Insurance
Zoe Burge, UK
Maritime
Christoph Zarth, Germany
Public Procurement
Virginie Dor, Belgium
Real Estate
Angus MacRae, UK
Chris Rae, UK
David Abel, UK
Emma Pinkerton, UK
Lukáš Hejduk, Czech Republic
Ursula Steinkemper, Germany
Restructuring & Insolvency
Björn Frisch, Germany
Niklas Lütcke, Germany
Tax
Frédéric Gerner, France
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk