CMS stands out for wealth of public sector expertise, acting for healthcare authorities, government agencies, and local councils. Ailsa Ritchie spearheads the team, which has expertise ranging from PPP and PFI support to handback mandates, project restructuring advice and procurement matters. Ritchie is noted for her capabilities in education and transportation infrastructure projects, while Amanda Methven is a renowned figure in the utilities space. Fenella Mason is also a key lawyer of note, and Susie Lind joined the team in November 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Caroline MacIver is among the best and brightest construction lawyers in the country. Can't praise her highly enough. Fenella Mason is a force of nature.
- The CMS team of Ailsa Ritchie, Euan Rose, and Lili Chaneva stood out on this project. Collectively, they assisted and guided the Council team and provided legal advice and direction that was exemplary.
- CMS completely understood its role and allocated key staff with particular skills and experience providing advisory services of this nature. The CMS team was able to react quickly to the service request and was very responsive during the procurement process.
- Good attention to detail and really getting to know their clients - this is reflected in the quality of legal advice.
- Excellent team who learn very quickly on both the broader points and the details. Seamless working across several disciplines to get you a "single point" comprehensive input or response. Always a pleasure to work with and they never fail to deliver on their support for PPP projects.
- My key contact is Amanda Methven. Amanda is a supremely experienced, capable lawyer with a thorough understanding of the drivers in complex infrastructure projects. She works incredibly hard to get projects over the line with a clear focus on what needs to be done. Kayleigh Purves is also excellent: dedicated, hardworking, and extremely capable. I am always confident in instructing CMS that there will be no grandstanding, game playing, showboating, or time wasting. The job will get done.
Key clients
- Scottish Water
- Transport Scotland
- Innovate East Lothian Limited
- NHS Fife
- Scottish Borders Council
- Serco Caledonian Sleeper Limited
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
- hub East Central Scotland Limited
- Health Management (Carlisle) Limited
- Scottish Ministers
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
- South Lanarkshire Council
Work highlights
Advising Scottish Water in relation to the expiry of two waste water PFIs due to expire in 2026, and the handback of critical infrastructure into public ownership.
Advising Transport Scotland on the restructuring of CalMac Ferries Limited in order to permit the inhouse or direct award of the ferry service contract by Scottish Ministers to CalMac and the award of a contract for The Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services to provide a lifeline service of passenger and freight transport by boat to the Scottish Islands.
Advising NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in relation to the design and construction of a new Health Centre at Bishopton & Dargavel and the design and construction of a new Radionuclide Dispensary at Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading partners
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Practice head
Ailsa Ritchie
Other key lawyers
Amanda Methven; Fenella Mason; Susie Lind