Kennedys Law
| Company type | LLP |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founder | Charles Kennedy |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Meg Catalano (Global Managing Partner), Eric Hiller (US Managing Partner), John Bruce (Senior Partner) |
| Products | Legal services |
Kennedys Law LLP is a global legal practice with its main office based in London. In 2017, the firm broadened its reach in the United States by merging with the insurance-specialist firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK).
The firm’s expertise covers a wide array of sectors including insurance and reinsurance, aviation, banking and finance, construction and engineering, healthcare, life sciences, marine, public sector, rail transport, real estate, retail, shipping and international trade, sport and leisure, logistics and transport, as well as travel and tourism.
For the financial year 2024/25, Kennedys announced worldwide revenues of £428 million (equivalent to US $551 million), reflecting a 13% growth compared to the previous year. Leadership updates revealed in late 2024 named Meg Catalano as Global Managing Partner and Eric Hiller as US Managing Partner. John Bruce took over as Senior Partner from Nick Thomas after Thomas’s 27 years of service; Bruce formerly headed the global Financial Lines division and is a member of the firm’s Executive Group.
History
Charles Kennedy, the firm's founder, was associated with multiple partnerships including Kennedy, Danvers & Co; C. Frederick Kennedy & Co; Kennedy Lindo & Co; and Kennedy Genese & Co.
Expansion
- 1996: Launched office in Belfast
- 2008: Integrated Davies Lavery, adding locations in Birmingham and Maidstone
- 2010: Opened Miami branch
- 2013: United with aviation-focused Gates and Partners, increasing staff by 70 and establishing a Brussels office
- 2015: Created a joint law venture with Legal Solutions LLC in Singapore
- 2016: Merged with Danish firm Advokatfirmaet Erritzøe to open Copenhagen office
- 2016: Combined with marine and shipping specialists Waltons & Morse
- 2017: Joined forces with US insurance law firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK)
- 2017: Merged with commercial disputes firm berg
- 2018: Partnered with Israeli insurance law firm Zelichov, Ben-Dan & Co to open an Israel office
- 2023: Relocated main London office to 20 Fenchurch Street (the "Walkie-Talkie")
Between 2017 and 2023, Kennedys extended its global footprint by inaugurating offices in Mexico City, Melbourne, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Paris, Bermuda, Bristol, San Francisco, Oman, Perth, Leeds, Wilmington, Brisbane, Houston, Newcastle, and Fort Lauderdale.
In 2019, Suzanne Liversidge was appointed as Kennedys' inaugural global managing partner.
From 2020 through 2023, Kennedys formed alliances with:
- Dolden Wallace Folick LLP (Canada)
- Baysal & Demir (Turkey)
- Lopez del Solar (Bolivia)
- Tobar ZVS (Ecuador)
- PALM Legal (Portugal)
- Next Advokater (Sweden)
- AZ Cardoso Advogados (Brazil)
In December 2024, Law360 ranked Kennedys 13th worldwide for network strength and 16th for bench strength. The firm's international expansion continued in 2024 with new offices opening in Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, and Los Angeles in the US along with growth activities in New Zealand.
Awards
2025
- Claims Team of the Year - Service Provider at the Claims Excellence Awards 2025
- Cyber Law Firm of the Year at the Intelligent Insurer Cyber Insurance Europe Awards
2024
- Claims Team of the Year at the British Claims Awards 2024
- Best Law Firm for Partner Approachability awarded by Legal Cheek
- Cyber Law Firm of the Year at both Cyber Insurance Europe Awards and Intelligent Insurer
2023
- Technology Partner of the Year - Claims at Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards
- Impact Case of the Year at LMG Life Sciences Awards EMEA for Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd and Stryker LTD (2022)
- Cyber Risk Lawyer of the Year awarded by Zywave Cyber Risk Awards Gala to Judy Selby
- Bronze winner for Technology Partner of the Year at Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards