As ‘one of the top corporate and commercial practices in Scotland’, CMS manages and negotiates a range of transactions including M&A, PE, venture capital and capital markets work. The firm has a UK-wide portfolio of deals, handling the investment, operation and exit pieces of blockbuster deals, as well as possessing a specialist commercial practice that regularly works in tandem with the corporate offering. Frank Fowlie heads up the practice from Aberdeen, and Helen Gillies and Jack Letson handle proceedings from Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively. The ’stand-out’ Gillies is praised for her ‘strong business mind and strategic perspective’ across a range of industries and is well-equipped to handle M&A, management buy-outs and venture capital transactions, while Letson brings further expertise in cross-border joint ventures and public company takeovers. Bruce Harvie works for a wide variety of investment vehicles and early-stage venture capitalists, whereas Kate Darracott is chiefly noted for her equity capital markets and US securities acumen. Robbie Somerville is also key name to note. Graeme Bruce retired in 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Team are very responsive; they provide an intelligent analysis and workable options on how to proceed towards a satisfactory outcome for their client often in difficult circumstances.'
- 'They are easily one of the top corporate and commercial legal practices in Scotland.'
‘The strength of the team is epitomised by Helen Gillies, with whom we most often interact. She is our ‘go to’ legal adviser.’
‘I am most impressed by the holistic approach. CMS are a partner to me in looking at all angles and supporting the issues, the company and the people. I love the proactivity, the expertise and the partnership. ’
‘Helen Gillies stands out in every way. She has such a strong business mind and also strategic perspective regarding what is going on in industry. I rely on her perspective and she is incredibly creative in how she handles a problem. Helen invests herself in the broader objectives I have and then comes up with even better solutions to the challenges. She has an energy and a tenacious spirit to compliment her incredible experience. She is my first stop.’
Key clients
- Media Zoo Limited
- Flotation Energy Limited
- Natwest Group PLC
- Infra Balance New Energy
- Bruker Corporation
- Cornwall Insight Group Limited
- Packaging with Robots
- Business Growth Fund (BGF)
- Macfarlane Group plc
- Cicor Group
Work highlights
- Acted for Cicor on its acquisition of UK-headquartered STS Defence Group Limited.
- Acted for Trojan on an investment by BGF and The Scottish National Investment Bank.
- Acted on the sale of ACE Winches to subsea equipment rental specialist Ashtead Technology.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Frank Fowlie
Other key lawyers
Helen Gillies; Jack Letson; Bruce Harvie; Kate Darracott; Robbie Somerville