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Kennedys has announced the latest phase of its expansion with the launch of a new office in Perth, Australia. It is the firm’s 43rd office and second new office opening so far this year.
The opening of the new office is to be led by new partner Jonathan Wyatt who has joined from Clyde & Co with a team of nine.
The opening reflects Kennedys’ focus on expanding its presence in response to client demand. In Australia, it follows the 2017 opening of an office in Melbourne, which has since trebled in size – and in Sydney in 2006.
Jonathan Wyatt is an experienced and highly regarded insurance specialist, known for his expertise in marine, property, financial lines and liability insurance. He was most recently a partner at Clyde & Co and was with Perth-based leading insurance firm Jarman McKenna before that.
Mr Wyatt is joined at Kennedys by his former team: special counsel Paul Graham and Alen Sinanovic, senior associate Rosie Blakey-Scholes, associates Kendall Messer, Jack Carroll and Ashleigh Weaver, paralegals Luke Docker and Quinton Roberts, and secretary Danni Durrant.
Kennedys partner in Australia Matt Andrews said: “Kennedys is committed to providing the best on-the-ground capability wherever our clients need it. The appointment of a partner of Jonathan’s calibre and his team makes good on that promise and will ensure that our clients have seamless access to Kennedys’ expertise.”
Jonathan Wyatt said: “My team and I are excited to be joining Kennedys. The global reach of the firm and the alignment of its goals to my areas of practice - Marine, Liability and Property – make it an ideal fit. We relish the opportunity to establish a leading insurance practice with Kennedys in Perth.
My team in Perth will have scope to explore new career opportunities with a global firm and the benefit of Kennedys’ supportive workplace culture.
Matt Andrews added: “I am delighted to welcome Jonathan and his team to Kennedys, to help us build a leading insurance practice in Perth, and a vital link in our growing national presence.”
Nick Thomas, Senior Partner at Kennedys, says: “We’re starting the new financial year by progressing our global strategy of growing our international capabilities based on client need. Opening a new office in Perth is another exciting milestone to have reached with Australia and our practice in Asia Pacific being an important focus for us.”
In the last 12 months Kennedys has also opened three new offices during global lockdowns in San Francisco, the firms’ first West Coast office in the US, Tel Aviv, when the Zelichov Ben-Dan & Co, as association of Kennedys, joined the firm and Leeds as a result of acquiring a 36 strong insurance team.
The Perth office will be located at Level 24, 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth.
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