CMS was formally established on July 1, 1999 with the objective to create a professional multi-jurisdictional legal and tax service organisation, headquartered in Europe. The founding partners were the UK, German, Austrian, Dutch and Belgian firms.
In 2000 CMS von Erlach Klainguti Stettler Wille, the Swiss firm, joined CMS.
In 2001 CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre, our French firm, joined CMS. It was then that CMS Legal Services EEIG was transferred to Brussels, where the headoffice was originally situated. Now the headoffice is managed by a dedicated team based in Frankfurt.
In 2002 CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni, the Italian firm, joined CMS.
In October 2004 CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo signed the agreement to join, which they did on the 1st of January 2005.
In November 2004, CMS Lexcelis announces the planned merger with DeBacker in Belgium. The merger took place on the 1st of January 2005. From that day onwards, the firm is called CMS DeBacker.
In October 2005, CMS von Erlach Klainguti Stettler Wille merged with the renowned Zurich firm Henrici, Wicki & Guggisberg. The new firm was named CMS von Erlach Henrici.
In March 2008 CMS entered into an association agreement with The Levant Lawyers (TLL) - the largest law firm in the Lebanon. TLL has 50 lawyers across its offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and its headquarters in Beirut and, under the agreement, is committed to further strengthening its representation throughout the Middle East.