Kennedys bolsters corporate and commercial practice with asset and aviation finance partner hire

We are delighted to announce an addition to our growing corporate and commercial practice with the appointment of partner Adam Longney.

Adam, who joins from Reed Smith, has over 18 years’ experience advising borrowers, financiers, lessors and lessees on a broad spectrum of domestic and international financing and leasing transactions, with particular expertise in the acquisition, financing, leasing and disposal of aircraft and other non-aviation equipment, general commercial agreements and receivables financing.

Adam, who will be based in the firm’s London office in the iconic ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building, says: “I’ve been impressed with the way Kennedys has expanded its corporate and commercial offering, complementing its heartland insurance practice. With the firm’s renowned aviation practice, this move presents an exciting opportunity for me to utilise my transactional expertise advising airlines, lessors, financiers and other aviation stakeholders, and expand the range of services that the firm can provide its clients.”

Under the leadership of Ben Aram, Kennedys’ global corporate and commercial practice has seen rapid expansion in recent years and now has more than 190 lawyers working across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the US and Bermuda, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Commenting on the announcement, Ben, Global Head of Kennedys’ Corporate and Commercial practice group says: “Adam has an excellent reputation and there are strong and complementary synergies between his practice and the services we offer our clients. Attracting people with Adam’s deep sector knowledge allows us continually to deliver innovative solutions.”

Kennedys’ corporate and commercial practice encompasses a range of contentious and non-contentious legal services for businesses including corporates, financial institutions, public bodies, insurers and UHNWIs, operating across a number of industry sectors.

The appointment takes Kennedys’ total partner count to 330 worldwide following the firm’s annual round of partner promotions and the trio of specialist liability partner hires announced in May, which also marked the opening of a new office in Newcastle – the 13^th in the UK and 44^th globally.