Department profile
CMS

Projects & Energy

Europe Guide 2026 : Europe-wide

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CMS

About

Provided by CMS

With 400+ lawyers working across 75 offices, CMS Energy & Projects practices are one of the biggest in the world. For over 30 years, both groups have successfully developed their capabilities, gaining valuable experience in numerous complex transactions and projects in the sector. CMS offers a unique platform unmatched by any other international law firm on the continent. In each jurisdiction across Europe, we offer a specialised team of energy and infrastructure lawyers.

Our energy experience spans: renewables, power and oil & gas. Our projects experience spans: airports, seaports, motorways, railways, public transport, chemical, waste management, healthcare, digital infrastructure, district heating, education, urban regeneration, water and sewage as well as e-mobility.

We are able to provide sector-specific legal advice throughout the project life cycle, from the financing of a project to its execution and operation and subsequent sale. We advise utilities, sponsors, lenders, public sector organisations, contractors and service providers in a wide variety of energy and infrastructure (including public-private partnerships (PPP)) projects.

Given the long-term nature of the projects we advise on, it is not uncommon for disputes to arise at some point during a project’s lifespan. CMS’s comprehensive offering allows for streamlined and effective collaboration with our contentious colleagues to steer our clients through the more challenging phases of their projects.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Projects & Energy - Europe-wide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

CMS has a strong energy practice with experience in transactional, regulatory and contentious mandates spanning the oil and gas, power and renewables sectors. The law firm has a significant footprint in the CEE region, with additional strength in the UK, Portuguese, French and German. The lawyers handle cross-border corporate acquisitions for EU-headquartered oil and gas companies and various transactions of renewable energy assets across the continent. CMS also acts for project developers, international banks and government bodies on infrastructure projects with multi-jurisdictional elements.

Notable practitioners

Paul Smith heads the firm's energy, projects and construction group from his London base. Kristy Duane is a further key point of contact in London, heading the firm's international infrastructure and project finance practice. Sofia-based Kostadin Sirleshtov heads the CEE energy and climate change team.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS has a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, which is not only legally sound but also well thought-out in terms of project practice.

    Projects & Energy respondentEurope

  • CMS has exceptional service and responsiveness throughout the transaction process and afterwards.

    Projects & Energy respondentEurope

  • Their coordination is seamless and their advice is always commercially relevant, technically sound and easy to implement. They strike the right balance between legal depth and business focus.

    Projects & Energy respondentEurope

  • CMS is capable of providing clear recommendations to complex and ambiguous situations and regulations.

    Projects & Energy respondentEurope

  • CMS has a broad range of lawyers who are able to handle a variety of difficult issues. The lawyers show great knowledge of the market, current problems and always present a problem-solving approach.

    Projects & Energy respondentEurope

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