CMS has been named the CEE Legal Adviser of the Year at the Financial Times (FT) & Mergermarket M&A Awards Gala on Wednesday night.

The awards have earned a reputation as the industry standard for corporate, private equity, investment banking and legal M&A expertise. Firms are shortlisted by statistical analysis of Mergermarket's M&A database, an authoritative source of M&A league tables, before a panel of independent expert judges decide on a winner for each category.

This year's judging panel included executives from KKR, AXA Private Equity, Philips, GE, Barclays, Iberdrola and Credit Suisse who considered the complexity and strategic significance of all highlighted deals. CMS faced stiff competition from other shortlisted firms in the CEE category including A&O, DLA Piper, Weil Gotshal & Manges and White & Case. 

Thomas Meyding, the CMS Head of Corporate Group said: ‘We are extremely pleased to win this prestigious award, recognising the expertise of our team and the significance of the deals we have worked on in the CEE region.’

Helen Rodwell, the CEE Head of Corporate Group added: ‘This award is further proof that with 20 years experience in the region we have become the preferred M&A adviser to top corporates and financial institutions operating in CEE.’

Graham Conlon, an English-qualified Solicitor and Head of Corporate at CMS Cameron McKenna in Ukraine, said: 'Clients come to us because we offer the quality, depth and expertise to advise on all aspects of the transaction, both locally and internationally, from here on the ground in Ukraine. This is of particular relevance to major Ukrainian companies and entrepreneurs who are increasingly recognising the importance and benefits that flow from running their companies, and implementing transactions, in accordance with Western quality standards. This award therefore helps to cement us as the go-to law firm for quality in Ukraine.'