CMS emphasizes client service, collaboration and innovation as central criteria for the latest global partner cohort
International law firm CMS has announced the promotion of 54 new partners across its global network, with the cohort spanning 29 cities in 21 countries.
The promotions, which take effect between 1 April 2025 and 1 April 2026, underline the firm’s continued focus on international growth and cross-border capability. Women make up 52% of the new partner class, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve gender balance at senior levels.
The UK accounts for a significant portion of the promotions, with new partners appointed across key practice areas including corporate, dispute resolution, employment, real estate, insurance and technology. Cities represented include London, Manchester, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Sheffield.
Senior partner Charles Currier said the new partners had demonstrated “exceptional client service” and a strong commitment to collaboration and innovation. He added that the cohort reflected the “quality and diversity of talent” across the firm and would play a key role in its future leadership.
CMS chairman Pierre-Sébastien Thill similarly emphasised the importance of people to the firm’s strategy, stating that the promotions recognised lawyers who had earned the trust of clients and colleagues while embodying the firm’s international outlook and ambition.
The latest round continues CMS’s long-standing approach of making annual partner promotions across its global network. The firm operates in more than 40 countries and has positioned itself as one of Europe’s largest law firms, with a strong emphasis on cross-border work and sector specialisation.
The spread of promotions across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas highlights the firm’s investment in key growth sectors such as corporate/M&A, finance, disputes and technology. It also reflects the increasing importance of international collaboration in servicing global clients.
For the legal market, the announcement signals continued competition among major firms to attract and retain talent through internal promotion, as well as the importance placed on diversity metrics in partnership appointments.
The scale and geographic breadth of the promotions reinforce CMS’s strategy of strengthening its international platform while developing leadership from within its existing ranks, at a time when global firms are under pressure to demonstrate both growth and inclusivity.