Penelope Warne is a distinguished British lawyer renowned for her trailblazing career in the legal profession. She began her legal journey at Slaughter & May, where she trained and qualified as a solicitor.
Subsequently, she moved to Scotland, qualified as a Scottish lawyer, and focused on the oil and gas industry. In 1993, she joined CMS, establishing their Aberdeen office and becoming the first female oil and gas lawyer in Scotland.
Over her 30-year tenure at CMS, Penelope played a pivotal role in the firm’s global expansion, spearheading the opening of new offices across Scotland, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. In 2013, she made history by becoming the Senior Partner of CMS, one of the first women to lead a major UK law firm. Under her leadership, CMS underwent significant transformations, including the successful merger with Dundas & Wilson in 2014 and the groundbreaking three-way merger with Nabarro and Olswang in 2016, creating one of the largest law firms in the UK and globally. Beyond her leadership at CMS, Penelope has been an influential figure in the legal industry. She has received numerous accolades, including recognition in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 and the UK Legal 500 Award for Outstanding Achievement. She was also named one of the “500 Most Influential” .
