Kennedys continues strategic growth with new partner hire in Manchester

Kennedys has appointed Judith Martin as a partner in Manchester.

Judith qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and became a partner at Halliwells in 2004. She now joins Kennedys having spent over nine years at Clyde & Co, where she helped set up and develop the disease team.

Judith has specialised in disease litigation for 25 years and has handled a broad range of cases, spanning long-tail asbestos-related matters to a full range of short-tail matters, including diesel fume exposure/asthma and toxic exposure/dermatitis claims. Judith has a particular interest and specialism in stress, bullying and harassment claims and has successfully defended many of these cases to trial.

She also has considerable experience in handling complex abuse and failure to remove cases including physical and emotional historic abuse, as well as claims involving the elderly/vulnerable adults, human trafficking and human rights issues. Alongside this, Judith has considerable experience and expertise in retail robbery and post-traumatic stress disorder, having successfully defended a number of such claims brought in the retail and gaming sector, including the Court of Appeal case of Nicholls v Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming.

Claire Mulligan, partner and head of Kennedys’ UK Liability Defence group, comments: “We are delighted that Judith is joining Kennedys. Judith is a leading name in the Legacy Claims Market and there are many synergies with her practice and Kennedys’ existing Legacy Disease team. Her knowledge and expertise will greatly benefit our clients and help us to continue our growth trajectory.”

Helen Snowball, partner and leader of the firm’s Public Sector and Specialist Risk team, says, “Judith’s years of experience dealing with a broad spectrum of disease cases will greatly benefit our clients. We warmly welcome her to the team.”

Judith adds, “Kennedys is a firm known for ensuring that values drive both business and behaviours. I’m really pleased to have joined the team and I’m looking forward to being a part of Kennedy’s ongoing success, in Manchester and beyond.”

Kennedys moved to its Manchester office, based in the city centre’s Trinity, in 2021.