CMS has announced an end to its arrangement with Slovak office Ružička Csekes in favour of opening its own office in the country in May this year.
The firm will open an independent office in Bratislava with a new locally recruited team. Its three-way merger with Nabarro and Olswang in the UK will go ahead in the same month.
The managing partner of CMS Austria, Peter Huber said: “We and our clients have valued highly our long-term relationship with Ruzicka Csekes, but believe operating with our own team of Slovak lawyers will provide the most seamless delivery of legal services to our clients.”
CMS axing the alliance comes amid a global profitability drive launched by the firm last year to help boost its profitability to match Nabarro’s. The profitability drive has already seen several CMS partners forced down the equity ladder.
The firm has also put all of its business services roles under consultation ahead of the merger, with the consultation to conclude later this month.
Jaroslav Ruzicka, founder and managing partner of Ruzicka Csekes, said: “Our association with CMS has allowed us to offer a broad range of international capabilities to our clients. Moving forward we will continue to build on our leading position in Slovakia, while considering how best to wrap the international experience into our client driven practice.”
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