Kennedys expands in Madrid with trio of leading insurance partner hires

Kennedys has appointed Ignacio Figuerol, Ricardo Garrido and Susana Martinez as partners in Madrid. They join from Clyde & Co and are accompanied by a team of 10.

In a joint statement, Ignacio, Ricardo and Susana said: “We are excited to be joining Kennedys. We already know the existing team in Madrid extremely well and the partners and associates are highly respected in the Spanish market, with extensive expertise to meet the needs of leading insurance clients. There is great synergy amongst our respective clients. The combination of comprehensive service and a truly global network, aligned with a commitment to growth and innovation, makes Kennedys the ideal firm with which we can now embark upon our next chapter.”

Andrew McGahey, Regional Managing Partner, EMEA, says: “As a business, our vision is to be a leading global legal risk advisory firm which has support for the insurance industry at its core. Bringing in leading lawyers like Ignacio, Ricardo, Susana and their team underscores our commitment to strengthening our offering in one of EMEA’s most important legal markets. Combining their strengths with those of our existing team in Madrid significantly enhances the level of support we can offer to our insurance clients, here in Spain and across the EMEA region.”

Isidoro Ugena, Managing Partner in Madrid, says: “Kennedys’ specialist team in Madrid represent some of the most important national and international insurance companies in the market, with whom we have developed close and long-lasting relationships. The expertise and the strong local market relationships that Ignacio, Ricardo and Susana enjoy will serve to greatly enhance the breadth and depth of this already strong client offering.”

Ignacio, listed in this year’s EMEA Legal 500 as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer, has extensive experience advising Spanish and foreign insurers and re-insurers in domestic and international insurance litigation and arbitration and non-contentious insurance in the D&O, financial institutions and professional indemnity fields, in Spain and Latin America. He has handled major cases involving public offering of securities, directors and officers, financial institutions, auditors, insurance brokers, accountants and lawyers. Ignacio's experience also covers a wide range of reinsurance disputes. He has recently advised insurers in connection with the few class actions in the US against Spanish companies.

Ricardo acts for major national and international insurance companies in both contentious and non-contentious matters. He has been involved in several high profile cases defending insurers and their insureds and has substantial tribunal experience. He also drafts and adapts insurance policies to Spanish law. Ricardo is experienced in international issues and has been particularly active in several jurisdictions in Latin America. He lectures at conferences seminars and business schools.

Susana has over 20 years’ experience in the insurance sector. Her practice focuses on advice, coverage dispute and defence work in complex matters across multiple jurisdictions within EMEA and Latin America. She works for leading insurers and reinsurers as well as insurance and reinsurance intermediaries, with a particular focus in financial lines. Susana has also been involved in major cases notified under D&O policies and crime policies, and in construction PI cases with major construction companies. She has also advised insurance and reinsurance companies on corporate and regulatory matters as well as insurance policy wording drafting, including localisation to market.

Kennedys’ team in Madrid has experience in a range of sectors including (re)insurance, construction and engineering, property and energy, health and social security, maritime and international trade, public, aviation, travel and tourism and more. They have broad experience and knowledge within the insurance sector and also strongly believe that it is important to be accessible and offer practical solutions to clients.