Kennedys Law

Kennedys Law LLP
HeadquartersLondon, 20 Fenchurch Street, United Kingdom
No. of offices46[1]
No. of employees2900+ [2]
Major practice areasInsurance and reinsurance, litigation, healthcare, maritime and international trade, employment, banking and finance, aviation, insolvency and corporate recovery, real estate, contracts
Key peopleMeg Catalano
(Global managing partner)
John Bruce
(Senior partner)
Matt Andrews
(APAC regional managing partner)
Eric Hiller
(U.S. regional managing partner)
Revenue £428 million (2024/25)[3]
Date founded1899 (London)
FounderCharles Kennedy
Company typeLimited liability partnership
Websitewww.kennedyslaw.com

Kennedys Law LLP is an international law firm headquartered in London. The firm merged with American law firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK) in 2017.[4] A global corporate law firm, Kennedys specialises in litigation and dispute resolution.[5]

In 2024/25, the firm's revenue was £428million (US $551 million) an increase of 13% from the previous financial year.[6] The firm announced in November 2024 that Meg Catalano had been appointed global managing partner and Eric Hiller would be replacing her as U.S. managing partner.[7]

On 18 December 2024 Kennedys announced that John Bruce would be the firm's next senior partner, replacing Nick Thomas who had been in that role for 27 years, after having previously led the firm's global financial lines practice, and is a member of its executive group. [8]

History

Kennedys was founded in London in 1899 by British solicitor Charles Kennedy, who had qualified as a lawyer Australia.[9]

Founder Kennedy was part of several partnerships: Kennedy, Danvers & Co; C. Frederick Kennedy & Co; Kennedy Lindo & Co; and Kennedy Genese & Co.

The firm began expanding internationally in 2000, opening offices in Auckland and Hong Kong, then, later in Singapore. It merged with Danish law firm Advokatfirmaet Erritzøe in 2016,[10] and formed associations with law firms Kogstad Lunde & Co in Norway, and Advokatfirman NorelidHolm in Sweden.[9]

In 2026, the firm formed a strategic partnership with Spellbook generative legal AI platform.[11]

Expansion

  • 1996: Opened Belfast office
  • 2008: Merged with Davies Lavery,[12] acquiring offices in Birmingham and Maidstone
  • 2010: Established the Miami office[13]
  • 2013: Merged with aviation specialist firm Gates and Partners,[14] adding 70 employees and a Brussels office
  • 2015: Formed a joint law venture with Legal Solutions LLC in Singapore,
  • 2016: Merged with marine and shipping law firm Waltons & Morse[15]
  • 2017: Merged with U.S. insurance law firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK)[4]
  • 2017: Merged with commercial disputes firm berg[16]
  • 2018: Formed an association with Israeli insurance law firm Zelichov, Ben-Dan & Co,[17] opening of an office in Israel.
  • 2023: Moved their flagship London office to 20 Fenchurch Street (the "Walkie-Talkie")

Between 2017-2023, Kennedys opened offices in Mexico City, Melbourne, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Paris, Bermuda, Bristol, San Francisco, Israel, Oman, Perth, Leeds, Wilmington, Brisbane, Houston, Newcastle and Fort Lauderdale.

In 2019, Suzanne Liversidge was appointed as Kennedys' first global managing partner.[18]

From 2020 to 2023, Kennedys formed associations with:

  • Dolden Wallace Folick LLP in Canada[19]
  • Baysal & Demir in Turkey[20]
  • Lopez del Solar in Bolivia[21]
  • Tobar ZVS in Ecuador[21]
  • PALM Legal in Portugal
  • Next Advokater in Sweden
  • AZ Cardoso Advogados (AZC) in Brazil

In December 2024 the firm was recognised by Law360 as having achieved 13th place, out of 50 firms in total, for their global network and ranking 16th for their global bench strength.[22] The firm's global footprint went from strength to strength in 2024, with the addition of three new offices in the United States, Fort Lauderdale, Seattle and Los Angeles, as well as expansion in New Zealand.

Awards

2025

2024

2023

  • Technology Partner of the Year - Claims (Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards)[23]
  • Impact Case of the Year (LMG Life Sciences Awards EMEA) for Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd and Stryker LTD 2022 case
  • Cyber Risk Lawyer of the Year (Zywave Cyber Risk Awards Gala) for Judy Selby [24]
  • Technology Partner of the Year Bronze winner (Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards)[25]

References

  1. ^ "Our global offices".
  2. ^ "About us".
  3. ^ "Kennedys breaches £400m revenue barrier as it eyes becoming a billion-dollar law firm".
  4. ^ a b "Kennedys complete merger with U.S. insurance firm Carroll McNulty & Kull". Legal Business. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ Recamara, Josh (5 June 2025). "Kennedys reports 13% revenue growth, eyes US$1 billion by 2030". .insurancebusinessmag.com. KM Business Information UK Ltd. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Kennedys breaches £400m revenue barrier as it eyes becoming a billion-dollar law firm". www.globallegalpost.com.
  7. ^ "Kennedys announces new Global Managing Partner and new regional leadership".
  8. ^ "Kennedys elects successor to longstanding senior partner Thomas".
  9. ^ a b Randall, Steve (10 December 2015). "Morning Briefing: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer commits to reforestation project". thelawyermag.com. KM Business Information NZ. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  10. ^ Fouzder, Monidipa (9 December 2015). "Kennedys strengthens Scandinavian presence". Law Gazette. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  11. ^ Catalano, Meg (22 January 2026). "AI is not the only answer for an innovative law firm in 2026". globallegalpost.com. The Global Legal Post. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  12. ^ Walkinshaw, Danny (25 June 2008). "Kennedys and Davies merge". Insurance Times. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Kennedys open Miami office". Insurance Times. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Kennedys seals tie-up with Gates and Partners in aviation sector shake up". Legal Business. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Kennedys and Waltons & Morse complete merger". www.insurancebusinessmag.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  16. ^ Walters, Max (1 September 2017). "Manchester firm berg to disappear after Kennedys deal". Law Gazette. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Kennedys announces association with Israeli firm Zelichov, Ben-Dan & Co". Irish Legal News. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Kennedys Appoints Woman As First Global Managing Partner". Law.com International. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Kennedys singles out Dolden Wallace Folick LLP for its first association in the country". www.insurancebusinessmag.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  20. ^ Townley, Suzanne (10 September 2021). "Turkish alliances". Solicitors Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Kennedys makes new ties in Bolivia and Ecuador". latinlawyer.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  22. ^ "These Law Firms Are Law360 Pulse's Global Leaders - Law360 Pulse".
  23. ^ "Winners". Tech & Innovation Awards 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  24. ^ alarsen (16 June 2023). "Zywave Announces 2023 Cyber Risk Award Winners". Zywave. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  25. ^ Ruel, Clare (22 September 2023). "Revealed: Who won at the Tech and Innovation Awards 2023?". Insurance Times. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
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