CMS is one of the preeminent legal advisers to a range of regulated and unregulated funds, demonstrating activity on major fund establishments, mergers, restructurings, investments, and closing issues. The group also advises on fund changes acceptable to the FCA, ethical and sustainable fund work, and FCA investigations. Open-ended fund specialist Karagh Gilliatt leads the team and is frequently instructed by fund management houses. Co-head Colin Lawrie has recently overseen the winding up of a variety of Scottish Limited Partnerships and European property funds, while Aidan Campbell has notable strength in the authorised fund space, advising on establishment, termination and compliance issues. Sanaa Akhtar is another key name for UK authorised fund work, particularly with regard to open-ended funds.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has excellent depth of knowledge. The team is diverse but also uniformly approachable and commercial.’
‘Karagh Gilliatt provides deep technical knowledge combined with commercial pragmatism. She understands our business and is able to give strategic, sensible advice.’
Key clients
- Abrdn
- Baillie Gifford & Co Limited
- Embark
- Scottish Widows Schroders Personal Wealth
- T. Bailey Fund Services Limited
- Carvetian Capital Management
- Phoenix Group
- Scottish Friendly
- Argonaut Capital Management
- Sanlam Group
- Aviva
- Nomura
- Aegon Asset Management UK plc
- CMS DeBacker Luxembourg
- SVM Asset Management Limited
- Alberta Investment Management Corporation
- Qatari Diar
- Scottish National Investment Bank
- SSE plc
- Columbia Threadneedle Investment Business Limited (formerly BMO Global Asset Management)
- TechStart Ventures LLP
- GE Capital
- Clyde Blowers Capital IM LLP
- Atomos
- Lloyds Banking Group
Work highlights
- Acting for abrdn in relation to the merger of the LF abrdn Income Focus Fund into the abrdn UK Income Equity Fund.
- Acting for Baillie Gifford in relation to changes to the investment policy of Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Paris-Aligned Fund.
- Acting for Waystone Fund Services in relation to the changes to the investment policies of a range of Guinness funds.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Karagh Gilliatt, Colin Lawrie