CMS

Managing Partner: Dr Hubertus Kolster (CMS Germany)
Number of partners: 224
Number of lawyers: > 600
Languages: English, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Spanish

FIRM OVERVIEW:
CMS Germany is one of the country’s leading law firms. More than 600 lawyers, tax advisers and notaries public operate out of eight major German business locations and five international locations. Most recently, CMS opened an office in Hong Kong in 2016. At all its locations, CMS advises German and international companies and institutions from many different sectors on all aspects of national and international commercial law. CMS has long experience of working with corporate legal departments and in-house lawyers. In addition to the required specialist legal knowledge in all areas of commercial law, its lawyers understand the business needs and market-specific requirements of every industry and sector. CMS advises SMEs and major corporations on all aspects of national and international commercial law. Its strong teams comprise experienced specialists across a wide range of legal areas, making CMS a partner clients can rely on. CMS is one of the few law firms to possess expertise in all fields relevant to business enterprises, the public sector, high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs. Digital transformation has profound consequences for the global economy, with the impact already being felt in everyday corporate life and across almost every industry. As an innovative partner with strong digital expertise, CMS can assist clients with key issues around the digital economy and its legal implications. Its success is underpinned by the knowledge and experience of its more than 4,800 lawyers and tax advisers in over 70 offices worldwide. For more information about CMS, its lawyers and expertise, visit the website at cms.law.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
The Private Clients Teams have been advising private individuals for many decades. The CMS private client practice enjoys a high standing and reputation in the market. CMS strives to understand the needs of clients and their families and to tailor its advice accordingly. The individuals CMS represents include entrepreneurs, professionals, landowners, artists, and philanthropists of all ages. In some cases, CMS has been acting for families over a number of generations. CMS also assists private banks and asset managers in the various legal and tax challenges they face while managing the investments of HNW individuals. Its private client team advises on a wide range of legal and tax topics.

Its expertise includes national and international aspects in the following areas:
• Estate planning, estate administration and executorship
• Legal and tax assistance to executives and top employees in a context of international mobility
• Matrimonial property and inheritance agreements
• Wills and bequests
• Inbound and outbound relocation, residence, and nationality
• Foundations, endowments, and trusts
• Separation, divorce and maintenance
• Tax planning (wealth tax, income tax, capital gains tax, gift tax and inheritance tax planning)
• Compliance and structure audits
• Legal wealth planning and structuring
• Powers of attorney, living wills, patient’s directives, contingency planning
• Employment issues
• Charities and art
• Legal family office services
• Corporate matters for family-owned enterprises, M&A transactions
• Insurance issues
• Dispute resolution in the aforementioned areas, in particular domestic and cross-border trust and estate litigation and arbitration

PRACTICE AREAS:
Banking & Finance 
Commercial Law 
Competition & EU 
Consumer Products 
Corporate/M&A 
Dispute Resolution 
Employment & Pensions 
Energy & Climate Change 
Environment 
Funds 
Hotels & Leisure 
Infrastructure & Projects 
Insolvency & Restructuring 
Insurance 
Intellectual Property 
Life Sciences & Healthcare 
Private Clients 
Private Equity 
Public Law 
Public Procurement 
Real Estate & Construction 
Tax 
TMC - Technology, Media & Communications

Key Clients:
The individuals CMS represents include private bankers, asset managers, entrepreneurs, professionals, landowners, artists, and philanthropists of all ages. In some cases, CMS has been acting for families over several generations.

Contact:
Hans Christian Blum, Partner
Tel: +49 711 9764 477
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Dirk Schauer Partner
Tel: +49 711 9764 479
Email: [email protected]