1. Facing the future
    1. Selling the Merkur offshore wind farm
    2. Solving global challenges
    3. Advising on a EUR 1.1bn Bulgarian gas pipeline procurement
    4. Ukrainian Gas Transmission System unbundling
    5. The green economy: identifying primary risks and key opportunities
    6. ALPLA expands its global plastic recycling capabilities
  2. Navigating a changing world
    1. Helping Teyliom Hospitality’s expansion in Central and West Africa
    2. Data and risk: challenges in an uncertain world
    3. CMS advises on major East Africa paint transaction
    4. Shaping the new normal
    5. Working through the COVID-19 lockdown
    6. Commerz Real lands the largest deal in its history
  3. Harnessing technology
    1. MultiChoice separates from Naspers and lists on JSE
    2. CMS advises on ‘Train Maya’ rail project
    3. Online gambling grows as Gamesys is sold to JPJ Group
    4. CMS helps Korean investors acquire prime real estate assets
    5. CMS advises on first ever European real estate transaction using blockchain
    6. Smart living: creating a framework for disruption and innovation
    7. Technology: a unifying force
    8. CMS helps the BBC launch the streaming service BritBox in the UK
    9. Lupl delivers transformative open industry platform for legal matters
    10. CymbiQ Group on expansion course
  4. Managing risk
    1. ST Pharm establishes new medical testing and analysis business line
    2. CMS advises Blackstone on its investment in Carrix
    3. Colgate-Palmolive acquires premium anti-ageing skin care brand
    4. CMS advises Zentiva on its acquisition of Alvogen
    5. The true cost of ESG
  5. Inside CMS
    1. CMS Academy adds participants through digital learning
  6. CSR and Diversity & Inclusion
    1. Diversity and Inclusion at CMS UK
    2. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): CMS Charity Partner
  7. Interviews
    1. Interview with Gabriela Staber
    2. Interview with Sophie Marquet
    3. Interview with Courtney Rothery
    4. Interview with María González Gordon
    5. Interview with Mariel Dimsey
    6. Interview with Nedžida Salihović-Whalen
    7. Interview with Annemieke Hazelhoff
    8. Interview with Michelle Barclay
    9. Interview with Gerlind Wisskirchen

Shaping the new normal

Pierre-Sébastien Thill on the challenges that COVID-19 has presented to businesses

In the ‘new normal’, it will be imperative that we think very differently about the ways in which we serve our clients.
Pierre-Sébastien Thill

The global COVID-19 outbreak has presented CMS, the legal industry and the broader economy with unprecedented challenges. For us, ensuring the health and safety of our employees was paramount, as was guiding our clients through these times. In fact, supporting our employees through the rapid shift to remote working enabled us to continue providing our clients with a consistently high level of service. The great flexibility of our lawyers and staff and their dedication is a special point of pride for us.

We know that, despite all efforts, there will be no going back to ‘business as usual’ and we will have to adapt to the ‘new normal’. However, change, while necessary, is never easy and adjusting to the new reality will be challenging for us all.

A key factor that will help us weather the COVID-19 storm is our business strategy. Through a series of strategic projects, we are laying the foundation for a future-proof organisation. From innovations in technology, creating expert teams and expanding into new markets, our focus is on staying ahead of the curve, so we can give our clients the high-quality legal advice they need to adapt and succeed.

In the ‘new normal’, it will be imperative that we think very differently about the ways in which we serve our clients. Together with them, we will keep working on charting a way through this changed business landscape.

Key contacts

Pierre-Sébastien Thill
Pierre-Sébastien Thill
Partner
Chairman of the Executive Board - Chairman of the Executive Committee CMS
T +33 1 47 38 55 00