Recommended for major infrastructure projects, delivering ‘outstanding legal skills, experience and expertise’, CMS is at the forefront of the Scottish infrastructure market, acting for a variety of public bodies, multinational developers, and financial institutions. The firm has a notable volume of instructions regarding digital infrastructure and decarbonisation projects, and oversees developments in the transport, maritime, education, and healthcare space. Team lead Ailsa Ritchie is highly regarded for advising on the planning and delivery stages of multi-faceted projects. Amanda Methven is praised for her ’depth of understanding of PFI and PPP that it is hard to match’, while Shona Frame is singled out for her ‘brilliant tailored and practical advice’. Eleanor Lane lends her transport expertise to major road, rail and maritime ventures, and Fenella Mason, who joined from Burness Paull LLP in September 2023, is highlighted for her construction knowledge. Jenny Durie handles operational PFIs, and Vini Cowden has extensive experience in energy transition and decarbonisation mandates. Kayleigh Purves and hugely experienced senior associate Fiona Scott are also key names to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘CMS were appointed to advise on a major infrastructure project and brought outstanding legal skills, experience and expertise to the process and assisted in delivering an outstanding outcome on a complex project. Highly recommended.’
‘Special mention to Vini Cowden who provided exceptional support to the whole Project Team and managed a complex negotiation with great skill.'
‘CMS have a broad team with a huge range of experience in PFI/PPP projects and related models. They have worked on such a wide range of challenging projects in different sectors that there is no question you can take to them that they don't know how to answer or how to start to address.’
‘Amanda Methven has a depth of understanding of PFI and PPP that it is hard to match and she tackles complex questions thoughtfully and pragmatically. The team under Amanda and Jenny Durie are hugely experienced and hard working and always a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Shona Frame provides brilliant tailored and practical advice. Amanda Methven and her team provide good quality and timely projects advice.’
Key clients
- Scottish Water
- Transport Scotland
- Innovate East Lothian Limited
- NHS Fife
- Scottish Borders Council
- Serco Caledonian Sleeper Limited
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GG & C)
- hub East Central Scotland Limited
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
- Scottish Water
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
Work highlights
- Advised Scottish Water on its portfolio of wastewater PFI Projects which are now approaching handback.
- Advising Transport Scotland on the options for procurement in order to secure continuity of the Clyde & Hebridean ferry services.
- Advised the FM Contractor in respect of the remediation of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Defects in an East Lothian School.
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Practice head
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Ailsa Ritchie