Expert lawyer launches Kennedys’ professional liability team in Leeds

We have appointed one of our longstanding lawyers to spearhead a new professional liability hub in Leeds.

Partner Catherine Shuttleworth, will lead the team which has already announced two new hires, associates Robert Blair and Jordan Leech, who have moved from DWF.

Catherine, who has relocated from London to Leeds after 20 years with the firm, is joining senior associate Mark Cordingley a construction specialist in our existing professional liability team.

Kennedys boasts one of the largest professional liability teams in the industry, with more than 180 specialists across its global network dealing with claims of all sizes and complexity. Clients include insurers for global law firms, large accounting firms and construction, engineering and surveying companies. 

The new team will be based at the existing office in Queen Street, which opened two years ago following the firm’s 36-strong insurance acquisition from Langleys.

Catherine, who studied and spent her first eight years as a lawyer in Leeds, says it feels like coming home.

“Leeds has always had a strong insurance presence but recently there is a real buzz in the city , with several insurers, including some of our existing clients appreciating the benefits of having a strong presence in the north through expanding their existing teams and opening new hubs in the city,” she says.

“The expansion of the Leeds office further demonstrates our commitment to growing Kennedys’ presence in the north. There’s real potential for growth which is exciting and it’s also something of a homecoming for me to return to the city where I started my career. When the opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no.”

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Catherine has built up extensive experience acting for businesses and professionals accused of negligence. They include accountants, solicitors, surveyors, insurers, insurance intermediaries and insolvency practitioners.

Mark specialises in construction, defending claims against architects, engineers, surveyors, project managers and contractors. New recruits, Robert and Jordan, have experience across a broad range of professional indemnity and liability claims. The team also advise insurers on insurance coverage issues relating to professional liability claims.

Jeremy Riley, partner and Head of the Professional Liability team, adds: “Leeds is a great opportunity to grow our professional liability team in a buoyant Yorkshire and North East market and to have someone of Catherine’s experience and expertise at the helm is exciting. This move will complement our existing insurance team in Leeds, expand our National reach, and further cements our commitment to having a presence wherever clients need us.”

We recently strengthened our northern footprint with the opening of a new office in Newcastle – our 13^th in the UK and 44^th globally. The team of 15 is led by Andrea Ward, formerly head of the specialist liability practice at DAC Beachcroft and one of three specialist liability partners to join from the firm.

We also continued our upwards trajectory in May, promoting a further 20 people – nine men and 11 women – to partner and taking the total to more than 300 partners worldwide.