CMS launches Scottish Corporate Investigations Group

Law firm CMS is launching a new initiative to help Scottish-based businesses and organisations manage complex, sensitive and high-risk investigations with confidence.

The Scottish Corporate Investigations Group (SCIG) brings together a team of specialist solicitors and Certified Corporate Investigators from across the firm to support private, public and charity sector organisations in carrying out fair and impartial investigations.

Utilising deep expertise across employment, financial services, corporate crime, data protection, competition, cyber and more, the SCIG is designed to respond quickly and effectively by providing support to clients at every stage of a corporate investigation. This includes acting as independent external investigator, advising on internal processes, assessing regulatory risk or activity, and providing training for in house teams.

With access to CMS’s global network, including its highly praised London-based Investigations practice, and advanced technology, the new group offers a ‘discreet’ and ‘culturally-aware’ approach aimed at helping Scottish organisations strengthen governance, manage crises and reduce legal and reputational risk.

Leading the SCIG is Gillian MacLellan, a partner and employment law specialist at CMS. She said: “The reputations of businesses and organisations are coming under increased scrutiny from both industry regulators and the wider public in how they manage internal and external complaints. The growth of ‘speak up’ cultures and the use of AI tools further enhance this threat while the cost of a poorly handled investigation can be catastrophic.

“The Scottish Corporate Investigations Group has been set up to provide organisations with vital support by harnessing CMS’s investigations expertise and experience across key practice areas of the firm to ensure organisations can respond effectively to criticism.”

Neeraj Thomas, a partner and technology, IP and media specialist at CMS who is also part of the core SCIG team, said: “Adopting a discreet and culturally-aware approach with clients, the SCIG will not only help them to mitigate the impact of an investigation but will also focus on reducing their longer-term risks. Investing time up front to get an investigation approach or plan in place will pay high dividends.”

Sally Clark, Of Counsel specialising in corporate crime and a Certified Corporate Investigator, added: “Businesses across Scotland are increasingly having to deal with allegations of wrongdoing which may also be criminal – responding to and investigating these allegations in a timely, appropriate and potentially sensitive/discreet way is important on so many levels, including staff morale, reputational risk and scrutiny from law enforcement.”