CMS handles a wide range of personal injury matters, with a strong focus on industrial disease claims and matters related to the oil and gas industry, straddling the public and private sectors. The group leverages the firm’s international reach to assists with cross-border mandates. Gregor Woods leads the team, and has extensive experience in litigation regarding a wide range of matters, including those arising from the Human Rights Act 1998. Tim Riordan is noted for his work on claims arising from data breaches, while Emily Woodhead is noted for her work in employer and public liability claims, with an interest in liability disputes, complex injury claims and multi-party litigation.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very longstanding experience of heavy litigation (especially group litigation) that few city firms can rival.’

  • ‘The CMS team are efficient and accessible, providing excellent litigation support and being readily available to deal with issues or queries, no matter how small.’

  • ‘Gregor Woods is always available and highly efficient and hands on when dealing with cases, no matter what the value or profile of the proceedings.'

  • ‘Their strengths are excellent resources, attention to detail, sound technical knowledge, and commercial approach.’

  • ‘This firm is completely on top of the law, the evidence and the procedure and this makes it a formidable force to be reckoned with.'

  • 'Tim Riordan is an excellent tactician and is extremely knowledgeable.'

Key clients

  • AIG
  • Atos
  • Canopius
  • Capita
  • Coal Products Limited
  • Electric Insurance
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • GE Aviation
  • GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control Ltd
  • GE TIP
  • Imperial Chemicals Industries Ltd
  • Qatar Airways
  • Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • SGN
  • SSE
  • Tarmac Trading Limited
  • USAA
  • Yoplait

Work highlights

  • Defending the government in the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation.
  • Acting for the government in defence of asbestos-related disease claims from the nationalised mining industry, including claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer and pleural thickening.
  • Advising and providing strategic advice to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on all aspects of the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme.

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.

Gregor Woods, Tim Riordan

Other key lawyers

Emily Woodhead