CMS x Sustainability Unlocked

Client profile

CMS is a future-facing legal powerhouse with 5,000+ lawyers across 70+ offices in over 40 countries. Operating at the intersection of law and global business strategy, the firm’s advice is the bedrock for clients preparing for the world of tomorrow.

The mission

The goal was to execute a twin-pillar strategy: simultaneously reinforcing core legal expertise while building ESG fluency across the organisation. This required a modern learning approach that could elevate technical knowledge and unlock firm-wide sustainability capability.

The “Two-Way IP Exchange”: turning learning into a strategic asset

This is a partnership, not just a purchase. CMS lawyers—specialists in areas such as CSRD, Modern Slavery, Environmental Law, and more—created over 20 expert-led videos for the programme. Their authoritative, practical insights didn’t just enrich the learning experience; they became a key driver of engagement.

The Challenge: bridging the "Letter of the Law" with "Live Strategy"

In an environment where new climate-related directives emerge constantly, “knowing the law” is the bare minimum and understand the context in which these must be applied is where value can be created:

• The advisory gap: Clients increasingly expect their legal partners to demonstrate deep knowledge of ESG risks, decarbonisation and sustainable finance strategy.
• The cultural cliff: The firm needed to ensure sustainability was embedded as a core mindset across the entire organisation—not just a compliance box-ticking exercise. The challenge was democratising technical ESG knowledge for both legal and non-legal professionals at scale.

The Solution: a commercial fluency accelerator

CMS partnered with Sustainability Unlocked to deploy a solution that positioned learning as a tool for competitive advantage:

• Targeted pathways: The Managed Learning tool delivered curated content, ensuring high-impact relevance for each team’s day-to-day work and helping turn generalists into specialists.
• Enterprise-wide competency: The platform was made accessible to everyone—from junior associates to support staff—ensuring ESG literacy became a shared language across the firm.

The Impact: compliance turned into a competitive edge

The partnership has ensured that the people within CMS remain educated, engaged, and ready for the next phase of the firm's net-zero journey.

While CMS has achieved a massive 36% reduction in emissions since 2019, this partnership is part of the solution to help the people behind those numbers remain educated, engaged, and ready for the next phase of the firm's net-zero journey.

Because the platform includes high-quality content created directly by CMS experts, learners were even more motivated to participate. Engagement was entirely voluntary—yet the results surpassed typical benchmarks. The strong uptake reinforces a simple truth: when content is exceptional, people choose to learn.

Real-world application: the specialists' view

The contributions from CMS experts cement the firm’s position as a definitive source of legal knowledge. Examples include:

• Laura Houët: Modules on responsible investment and compliance that help professionals navigate the intersection of finance, regulation, and ESG impact.
• Pamela Turok: Practical guidance on ESG governance and product stewardship, helping clients translate complex frameworks into actionable legal strategies.
• Stuart Helmer: A focus on energy transition and decarbonisation strategies, providing the legal foundation for major renewable projects.

The Bottom Line

CMS didn't just meet a compliance requirement; they leveraged their expertise. By providing accessible, high-quality, and strategically aligned ESG training, they have reinforced their reputation as a responsible, forward-thinking legal leader. Their lawyers are now better equipped not only to deliver legal advice but to influence and shape the sustainable strategy of their global client base.