CMS fields a large tax team noted for its ‘technical excellence and responsiveness’, which benefits from its strong sector specialisms, including in TMT, infrastructure, energy, and real estate. Co-leading are Lauren Alder and Aaron Fairhurst. Alder is a specialist in the real estate sector, while Fairhurst focuses on energy, infrastructure, and private equity. Former co-head Stephen Hignett remains active, contributing expertise in the television and gambling sectors, while Phil Anderson is a key contact for REIT clients and Anna Burchner services those in the financial services sector. Mark Joscelyne left the firm in 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘They are extremely committed and focussed on the client.’
‘Technical excellence and responsiveness.’
‘Outstanding industry reach.’
‘Lauren Alder - rising star, incredibly hard-working and personable, gets the job done, technically great, I always want her on my side. A human being in the tax world.’
Key clients
- The People’s Pension
- Equinor UK Limited
- Phoenix Group
- Heim UK
- Charles Street Building Group
- AccorInvest
- Student Homes Management
- BP Plc
- BBC Studios Distribution Limited
- Assura Plc
- Matter Real Estate LLP
- LSREF4 Clear Investments S.À R.L. (Lone Star)
- TDR Capital
- J Sainsburys Plc
- ITV Studios Limited
- Fremantle
Work highlights
Advised The People’s Pension on the move of £15 billion of Scheme assets under management into climate aware investment strategies - the biggest single move of its kind by a UK master trust.
Advised our key client Equinor UK Limited on its 50/50 corporate joint venture with Shell UK, marking one of the largest energy deals in the UK North Sea.
Advised on the tax aspects of a joint venture (Future Growth Capital) between Phoenix Group, the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business with 12 million customers, and Schroders, the global investment manager with a £74bn private market capability.
Practice head
Lauren Alder; Aaron Fairhurst
Other key lawyers
Sam Dames; Lauren Alder; Anna Burchner; Jason Todd; Philip Reid