A CMS disputes partner has left the firm to take up a senior position at Scottish energy giant SSE, a key and longstanding client, according to people close to the matter.

Commercial litigation partner Gemma Lampert will take up a senior role at the energy firm, they said. SSE has yet to confirm Lampert's title, but a person close to the matter said it will be a "very senior position" but not general counsel. 

According to a company press release from last July, SSE is on the lookout for a new GC but has yet to fill the post.

The City firm has previously advised the Perth-based power company on its £326m sale of street lighting projects to Equitix, its £621m disposal of a 17% stake in Scotia Gas Networks, and a number of large private finance initiative projects.

SSE, one of the UK's biggest six energy companies, has a market capitalisation of about £12bn.

CMS said in a statement: "We can confirm that Gemma has left the firm to take up a role with SSE, an important client of the firm. We wish her all the best in her new role and look forward to continuing to work with her in the future."

Edinburgh-based Lampert was previously a partner at Scottish firm Dundas & Wilson, which in 2014 merged with CMS. Before that, she was a lawyer in Norton Rose Fulbright's maritime, energy and trade disputes team.

In 2017, Lampert spent seven months working in SSE's legal team on secondment as in-house disputes counsel.

Three months ago, SSE scrapped its plans to merge with energy powerhouse Npower – a proposed deal on which magic circle duo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May advised.