Promotions climb year-on-year at Kennedys, with 21 appointed to partner

We are marking our sixth year of double-digit promotions, with 21 elected to partner in our global annual promotions round. Effective today, this takes our partner count to 363, up from 349 in 2024.

With a 23% increase over last year, this is the firm’s largest number of partner promotions since 2022. Comprising of 13 men and 8 women, the 2025 cohort is truly global, with promotions spanning the UK, US, Australia and Ireland - a reflection of Kennedys’ continued commitment to strengthening its international bench strength. The US and UK lead the round, with ten and nine new partners respectively.

We have promoted sixteen within our insurance practice, bolstering our capabilities across strategic lines of business such as professional liability and marine. Notably, the financial and political risks team saw three promotions in London, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs and growing demands of its client base.

Continuing its growth trajectory, Kennedys corporate and commercial practice also saw five promotions across the UK and US. This includes appointments in commercial disputes, international arbitration, and products law and life sciences.

Region	Full name	Location
APAC	Alen Sinanovic	Perth
EMEA	Mark Dunne	Dublin
North America	Cara Vecchione	Basking Ridge
North America	Jack Gainey	Basking Ridge
North America	Matthew Gluck	Basking Ridge
North America	Gilda Romano Flam	Miami
North America	Jorge Maza	Miami
North America	Eridania Perez	New York
North America	Martin West	New York
North America	Michael Goldwasser	New York
North America	Katie Barksdale	Wilmington
North America	Gavin Fung	Philadelphia
UK	Alison Chadwick	London
UK	Emilie Civatte	London
UK	Oleg Shaulko	London
UK	Rekha Cooke	London
UK	Rhys Tebbett	London
UK	Rob Calnan	London
UK	Shaan Burton	London
UK	Thomas Miles	London
UK	John Pain	Taunton

John Bruce, Senior Partner, says: “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome this global cohort into our partnership. Each of our newly promoted partners has demonstrated exceptional legal expertise, a deep commitment to our clients and a passion for driving our firm forward. I look forward to working together to shape a firm that is not only fit for the future, but one that remains steadfast in our dedication to delivering strategic value to our clients, wherever they are.”

Meg Catalano, Global Managing Partner, adds: “A huge congratulations to our new partners. It has been a privilege witnessing their growth and progression over the years. At Kennedys, our people are our greatest competitive advantage, and today’s promotions underscore the breadth and depth of our talent. As they begin their new roles, they will each play an instrumental part in further strengthening our global reach, enhancing the value we deliver to clients, and shaping the path forward as we continue to navigate the evolving demands of business.”

Further information about our new partners:

APAC

Perth

Alen Sinanovic

Alen specialises in insurance litigation relating to professional indemnity, directors’ and officers’, property and employment practices liability claims. He also advises insurers on policy coverage. He has acted in many high profile and complex disputes and is recognised by clients for his technical expertise and commercial approach when acting in contentious matters. His broad range of experience in State and federal jurisdictions extends from cases such as contractual disputes and sexual harassment claims to coronial and regulatory inquests and claims for defamation. Alen also pursues subrogated recovery claims on behalf of insurers.

EMEA

Dublin

Mark Dunne

Mark is a partner in the insurance team in Kennedys Dublin. He is a commercial litigator and specialises in insurance disputes, advising both insurers and insureds across a range of areas, from policy wording interpretation and property damage claims to proceedings brought by third parties. In this regard, Mark has worked on a number of complex coverage claims including reinsurance and excess layer coverage disputes. He advises companies in relation to disputes litigated in the Commercial Court, High Court and Circuit Court, and has experience acting for both leading Irish and UK insurers.

North America

Basking Ridge

Cara Vecchione

Cara Vecchione is a member of Kennedys’ Insurance and Claims practice group. Focused on complex insurance coverage litigation and counselling, she represents domestic and international insurers in insurance coverage disputes involving a broad range of policies, including commercial general liability, umbrella, professional liability, Bermuda form excess liability, technology errors and omissions, commercial automobile, commercial property, marine and directors and officers policies. Her diversified experience includes coverage matters involving environmental contamination, advertising injury, product liability, technology/digital media, cyber, pharmaceutical, asbestos bodily injury, first-party property and bad faith claims.

Jack Gainey

Jack Gainey is a partner in the Basking Ridge office, with a practice primarily focused on insurance coverage matters. He represents domestic and international insurers in the areas of commercial general liability, professional liability, construction, Bermuda Form and London Market policies. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Jack served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert L. Polifroni P.J.Cv., in the Bergen County Superior Court. During law school, Jack worked in the chambers of both the Honorable Brian R. Martinotti United States District Judge, and the Honorable Victor V. Ludwig of the August Circuit Court in Virginia. 

Matthew Gluck

Matthew Gluck’s practice involves the defence of a wide variety of first and third party coverage matters; through all phases of litigation. He also has prior experience in worker’s compensation, municipal law and residential real estate. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Albany Law School of Union University. Following law school, Matthew was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Vincent LeBlon, of the New Jersey Superior Court, Middlesex County.

Miami

Gilda Romano Flam

Based in the Miami office, Gilda concentrates her practice on defending premises liability and commercial liability claims. Specifically, her focus is on personal injury, wrongful death, negligent security, property damage, construction defect, product liability, medical and professional malpractice, product liability, and commercial litigation.

Jorge Maza

Jorge Maza represents insurers in insurance coverage, bad faith, and commercial litigation matters. He primarily handles high-exposure insurance disputes involving commercial general liability, errors and omissions (E&O), environmental, reinsurance, commercial property, and business interruption claims. Jorge also counsels clients on claims handling and policy drafting, and is fluent in Spanish. He also frequently lectures on emerging insurance topics and leads seminars for clients on trends in the law, bad faith avoidance, and claims handling protocols.

New York

Eridania Perez

Eridania Perez has nearly two decades of experience representing major insurance and reinsurance companies in high stake litigation and arbitrations involving general liability, property and casualty, first-party property and professional liability lines and life insurance. Recognised as a “first rate” and “excellent lawyer with an absolute client focus”, Eridania’s practice also focuses on commercial litigation and international arbitration, and has tried cases in US state and federal courts and arbitrated cases under institutional and ad hoc arbitrations involving complex contractual disputes, fraud and misrepresentation claims, intentional torts, and breaches of warranties, among others.

Martin West

Martin West concentrates his practice on complex litigation matters. As an experienced litigator, he represents multinational and domestic clients in a wide range of commercial, marine, financial, intellectual property, employment and D&O defense matters. Martin has a track record of successful outcomes on behalf of his clients at all stages of litigation, including numerous trial and appellate victories. In addition to representing clients in active lawsuits, he advises on US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions issues.

Michael Goldwasser

Michael specialises in litigation, arbitration, and mediation of insurance coverage disputes. He has extensive experience resolving coverage disputes arising under directors & officers and corporate liability policies, professional liability policies, and employment practices liabilities policies. Additionally, he serves as coverage and monitoring counsel for complex claims, including class actions, government investigations and bankruptcy-related matters. Having graduated from Cornell University, he earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Michael is also an active member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).

Wilmington

Katie Barksdale

Katie Barksdale concentrates her practice on corporate and commercial litigation, regularly representing directors and officers accused of breaching fiduciary duties. She also advises her clients on corporate governance and proper corporate hygiene. She handles advancement actions and books and records demands, along with claims for fraud, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and aiding and abetting. Katie has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution and has successfully and cost-effectively resolved hundreds of cases on behalf of her clients.

Philadelphia

Gavin Fung

Gavin is a coverage lawyer and litigator with a focus in complex commercial matters. His practice includes handling matters involving policies for commercial general liability, professional liability, excess and umbrella liability, first-party commercial property, personal lines, commercial auto, and life insurance.  He represents and counsels insurer clients in matters that often involve construction defect, environmental liability, mass tort, and catastrophic injuries. Prior to attending law school, Gavin served in the United States Marines Corp Reserve and worked as an insurance claims adjuster.

UK

London

Alison Chadwick

Alison Chadwick has extensive experience providing advice to insurers and reinsurers across political risk and financial lines. She regularly advises on the coverage and adjustment of a range of complex, cross-jurisdiction and high value claims across all types of political risk policies, such as confiscation expropriation nationalisation deprivation (CEND), contract frustration, political violence, structured credit and trade credit policies. Alison also has extensive experience advising financial lines insurers on a huge variety of exposures, with a specific focus on civil liability matters, bankers blanket bonds (BBB) policies and directors’ and officers’ claims.

Emilie Civatte

Emilie acts for insurers and manufacturers in relation to product liability litigation, with a focus on mass tort and group litigation (including NOx emissions, gynaecological products and statutory public inquiries). Her work also covers cross-border cases and litigation in foreign jurisdictions which she runs for British and American insurers and insureds from London. Emilie regularly acts as monitoring counsel in medical devices claims in EMEA jurisdictions, assisting and briefing local counsel, pro-actively working towards an early resolution of claims etc. She is dual-qualified in England & Wales and France.

Oleg Shaulko

Oleg specialises in international dispute resolution, with a particular focus on international arbitration. He has acted in a broad range of arbitration proceedings under the LCIA, SIAC, UNCITRAL, and other leading arbitral rules, with matters seated in jurisdictions ranging from London, Geneva and Kyiv to Singapore and Bangkok. Oleg’s practice includes the oil and gas, commodities, and financial services sectors, with notable experience advising on disputes involving digital assets, including cryptocurrencies. In addition to his arbitration practice, Oleg advises private clients and family trusts on fraud and asset recovery matters. Oleg serves as the Head of the Representative Office of the Ukrainian National Bar Association in the United Kingdom.

Rekha Cooke

Rekha Cooke specialises in high-value disputes and regulatory investigations in the financial services sector, and has extensive experience defending claims against financial institutions and financial professionals. She regularly advises firms facing regulatory scrutiny, particularly in investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Her litigation practice also includes acting for company directors in complex high-value commercial disputes. Recent highlights include defending directors in court proceedings involving alleged wrongful trading, breaches of directors’ duties and fraud.

Rhys Tebbett

Rhys Tebbett is a partner in Kennedys’ commercial disputes team. Based in the firm’s London office, he acts for international conglomerates, domestic companies, insurers, and ultra-high net worth individuals and their businesses. He has a particular interest in high-value and complex disputes, which often involve cross-border parties.  Rhys has been recognised as a Recommended Lawyer for Commercial Litigation (mid-market, London) every year since 2022. Rhys was recently part of the legal team acting on behalf of three-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou in defending a USD 30 million claim brought by McLaren.

Rob Calnan

Having qualified as a solicitor in 2013 and joining Kennedys in 2019, Rob Calnan manages complex and high value construction claims for the professional indemnity market. Primarily focusing on the defence of construction professionals in high-value and multi-party disputes, he acts for architects, contractors, engineers, property managers, subcontractors, and specialist consultants. Rob is currently acting on a large number of multi-party disputes relating to fire safety and building regulation compliance following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. He is also acting on high profile insurance disputes arising out of works to a landmark London commercial property, as well as on a roof collapse at a historic London theatre.

Shaan Burton

Shaan Burton is a partner in the firm’s marine team, handling a variety of dry shipping matters for both insurers and large companies. Recognised as a “rising star within the legal arena”, Shaan handles shipping and marine insurance claims, with her practice including the review and analysis of contracts of major freight forwarders, the defence of cargo damage claims, warehousing disputes, and providing policy coverage advice. She has a particular focus on the transit of fine art, pharmaceuticals, commodities and the theft of general valuable cargo and wilful misconduct issues

Thomas Miles

Thomas is a member of Kennedys’ financial and political risk team. His practice focuses on advising companies and Lloyd’s market insurers on transactional liability, financial lines and political risk coverage matters. Thomas is regularly instructed in relation to high value, international and/or complex claims across a spectrum of insurance policies, including warranty and indemnity, financial institutions, directors’ and officers’, professional liability and political violence policies. His practice is truly international, advising insurers on English law but also acting as co-ordinating counsel where policies are governed by others laws of jurisdictions, including the US, Latin America and the Middle East.

Taunton

John Pain

John is a partner in the cyber and data risk team, specialising in cyber incident response, advising both corporate and insurer clients facing the full spectrum of cyber incidents. Given the increasingly global impact of cyber incidents, John frequently advises on matters impacting multiple jurisdictions and routinely collaborates with Kennedys' global cyber team to coordinate a response to large scale incidents affecting businesses and individuals across the world. In addition to the incident response work, John is involved advising clients in a ‘pre-breach’ capacity, ensuring they are as prepared for a cyber incident as possible.