CMS Cameron McKenna announces a new non-executive advisory panel as part of wide-ranging management and governance changes
01.10.2008
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has announced additional details of its new, streamlined governance structure, which will provide greater efficiency in responding to its clients and in achieving its ambitious convergence plans as part of CMS, the leading European organisation of independent law and tax firms.
The firm has also announced that it will put in a place an advisory network of experienced external advisers and business leaders, alongside senior CMS and CMS Cameron McKenna members. This will constitute a non-executive network to help coach, mentor and advise the Board, the Management Committee and the Central Management Team.
Senior Partner Richard Price said: “This is much more than just an administrative change to our internal governance structure. It is an innovative and forward-thinking way to ensure that we can respond quickly to our clients. It will support us in achieving our ambitious growth goals for the firm and in the part we play in the continued success of CMS.”
Duncan Weston, Managing Partner, commented, “I believe these changes will enable us to continue to increase the pace of our development. Our sights are firmly set on building a unique and distinctive leadership position in the marketplace. This new governance structure provides for collaboration, timely decision-making and a more joined-up approach in our leadership team. I am grateful to our partnership for their strong support for these changes.”
The Board
The new structure combines the former Board and Executive Committee into one body responsible for setting the firm’s strategy and overseeing its implementation. Chaired by Senior Partner Richard Price, the new Board includes the Managing Partner, all six Practice Group Managers and a number of partners elected for staggered, four-year terms.
The elected partners will include at least three representatives from the firm’s international offices – the first of whom are Iain Batty, Andrew Kozlowski and Todd Robinson. The elected partners also will include representatives of the firm’s Sector Groups – the first of whom are Nick Beckett and Louise Wallace. Andrew Ivison joins the Board also as an elected partner representative.
Craig Perry, the firm’s General Counsel, will also attend Board meetings.
The Board will meet on a monthly basis and keep a tight focus on the firm’s overall growth strategy. This will allow for the firm’s Management Committee to concentrate on more operational issues. The Board brings together representation from Practice Groups, Sector Groups and international offices.
The Board comprises:
Chairman: Richard Price, Senior Partner
Duncan Weston, Managing Partner
Iain Batty, CEE Commercial Practice Group Manager
Nick Beckett, Leader, Lifesciences Sector Group and Head of Intellectual Property
Edward Benzecry, Real Estate Practice Group Manager
Mark Heighton, Leader, Construction & Development Sector Group
Andrew Ivison, Infrastructure and Project Finance Partner
Andrew Kozlowski, Managing Partner, Warsaw
Will Meredith, Banking & International Finance Practice Group Manager
Nigel Moore, Commercial Practice Group Manager
Liam O’Connell, Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group Manager
Todd Robinson, Managing Partner, Bucharest
Andrew Sheach, Corporate Practice Group Manager
Louise Wallace, Leader, Consumer Products
Penelope Warne, Energy, Projects & Construction Practice Group Manager
The Management Committee
A smaller Management Committee executive team will run the firm on a day-to-day basis. This will be made up of seven Executive members and will be chaired by Managing Partner, Duncan Weston.
Committee members will include Steven Shone, who is located in Moscow will play a supporting role in the firm’s emerging markets initiatives, and Nigel Moore, who is a UK-based partner who will provide support for UK initiatives.
Operational Management
Monthly Business Review Meetings will be conducted with the UK and international leaders of Practice Groups and Sector Groups.
Director appointments
CMS Cameron McKenna also made a number of new director internal appointments earlier this month.
Tony Wright, former Head of Learning and Development, has been appointed Director of Operations. He has responsibility for the delivery of services across practice support, in line with the firm’s strategic priorities. Krishna Vishnubhotla, who previously held the role on an interim basis, has now been appointed on a permanent basis as Finance Director. Tom Kingsley has been appointed Director of Communications, with responsibility for integrating the firm’s internal and external communications, and aligning them with our strategic objectives.
Philip Rooke and Barbara Mendler have been appointed Special Projects Directors. They will lead projects that develop core service and international capabilities across CMS.
CMS Cameron McKenna announced in May a 19 percent rise in turnover to £235 million, a 29 percent increase in profits, and a 30 percent increase in profit per equity partner to £655,000.
CMS comprises nine member firms and achieved a combined turnover in 2007 of approximately €750 million. With almost 600 partners and employing over 2,200 lawyers, CMS is one of the top five largest organisations of law firms in Europe. CMS has offices in 48 cities in 28 jurisdictions.
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