Kennedys expands business services leadership with two global appointments

We have announced two strategic appointments, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to technology and knowledge management. Catherine Goodman has been appointed as the firm's first chief knowledge officer, while Paul Brotzel recently joined as chief information officer.

Catherine will spearhead our knowledge management team, a global team of knowledge professionals dedicated to keeping Kennedys’ legal teams informed on the latest developments in law, procedures and practices. She is tasked with evolving our knowledge management offering and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing across the firm.

Prior to joining Kennedys, Catherine served as Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management at Paul Hastings LLP, where she developed their global knowledge strategy. Having qualified as a solicitor in 2003, Catherine has previously practiced as a corporate lawyer in London and is currently an Honorary Reader in Law at Queen Mary University, London.

Catherine has received numerous accolades for her contributions to technology and innovation in the legal sector, including ‘Innovator of the Year’ at the 2023 Women & Diversity in Law Awards, and for ‘Most Innovative use of Technology’ at The Lawyer Awards 2022. She is a member of the International Legal Technology Association, and sat on the United Kingdom Law Commission Industry Working Group of experts on e-signing.

Our Knowledge Management team are based in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Dublin and Bermuda.

We have also appointed Paul Brotzel as the firm’s chief information officer. He leads a team of IT professionals across the United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. Paul is responsible for setting the IT technology strategy, covering all areas of IT, including infrastructure, applications, operations, and security.

Paul brings over 35 years of experience in the financial services IT industry to the firm, with a specialisation in insurance and insurance broking. He has led technology functions for some of the largest insurance organisations globally, including Aon and Allianz, and has designed and executed some of the most significant technology transformations in the industry.

Commenting on the appointments, senior partner Nick Thomas says: “These appointments highlight Kennedys’ commitment to investing in our knowledge and technology infrastructures. Catherine and Paul are the perfect choices to lead these functions on a global scale, and both are experts in their respective fields. Together, they will help us harness the power of technology, innovation and knowledge to better serve our people and help our clients to stay ahead in a rapidly changing legal and insurance landscape.”

Catherine comments: “I am passionate about using technology to enhance the use of knowledge within law firms, which is what attracted me to Kennedys. There are evident synergies, as the firm has shown commitment to innovation and excellence in knowledge management. I’m ready to hit the ground running and bolster Kennedys’ already best-in-class knowledge management team.”

Paul adds: “In the short time I have been at Kennedys, it is clear that the firm values forward-thinking and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues globally to deliver cutting-edge IT solutions that align with Kennedys’ strategic vision.”