CMS provides ‘highly practical advice on all manner of commercial contracts’, with particularly deep knowledge of sectors including retail and technology, handling contracts and manufacturing arrangements for leading FTSE 100 companies. At the helm is commercial law veteran John Enser. Other notable members of the practice are Matthew Bennett, who can advise on an array of strategic commercial contracts relating to outsourcing, offshoring and shared services; Laurence Kalman, who counts the technology sector as an area of strength; Dominic Dryden, who is key to the group’s technology and sourcing mandates; Sam Oustayiannis, who was promoted to partner in 2024 and handles commercial arrangements in the media and technology sectors; Ian Stevens, who plays an important role in the group’s matters in the telecommunications sector; and Suparna Bhattacharjee.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The CMS team does a fantastic job of delivering high-quality and highly practical advice on all manner of commercial contracts, and are highly skilled at explaining complicated arrangements to non-lawyers.'

Key clients

  • Microsoft
  • EFG Group
  • Gopuff
  • Phoenix Group (Standard Life)
  • Incipio Group Limited
  • Pendragon plc
  • Marks & Spencer
  • New Balance
  • IBM
  • Delaware North Companies
  • The Carbon Trust
  • University College London
  • University of Glasgow
  • Klarna
  • ADInstruments
  • MS Amlin
  • Atomos Investments Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Microsoft on and negotiated a +$2.8bn 10-year strategic cloud and data deal between Microsoft and the London Stock Exchange Group.
  • Advised Gopuff’on its negotiations for the agreements entered into with Uber and Deliveroo - its competitors in the food delivery space.
  • Advising Phoenix on the substantial expansion of its policy administration outsourcing arrangements with TCS Diligenta in Germany and Austria in order to replicate the success and partnership of the UK relationship.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

John Enser

Other key lawyers

Matthew Bennett, Laurence Kalman, Dominic Dryden, Suparna Bhattacharjee, Ian Stevens, Sam Oustayiannis