Kennedys leads service satisfaction in London Market insurance law report

An independent and wide-ranging industry report that ranks insurance law firms across a variety of areas has seen Kennedys set the standard for service satisfaction levels.

The 2019 Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report, which specifically ranks insurance law firms on their London Market work, has also ranked us as having the highest number of lawyers in the market who are known for delivering outstanding service, with 49 of our lawyers recommended. In total, our recommended lawyers have 71 mentions between them, which is the highest number of any law firm surveyed.

Complementing our success for client service, we have also been ranked by our clients above average for every separate client service metric, with us coming top in the areas below:

• high calibre partners
• keeping you updated with their news and activities
• innovative use of technology

In addition, we are in line with the best market performance for the following metrics:

• strong teams backing up the main partners
• delivering high quality service

Since the previous Gracechurch report, in 2016, we have significantly increased our usage within the London Market, from 63% to 75%. This follows strategic appointments made during the last three years which have seen us strengthen our London Market offering both domestically and internationally. These include our mergers with boutique marine and shipping law firm Waltons & Morse, in 2016, and US insurance firm Carroll, McNulty and Kull (CMK), in 2017; as well as establishing a presence in Bermuda.

There have also been team hires from Sedgwick in Chicago and New York, in addition to a five partner hire from Mayer Brown. Earlier this year we welcomed a 12-strong team from Norton Rose Fulbright that strengthened our global marine and energy practice, and appointed four UK partners to bolster our professional liability practice.

Underlining the growing need for global expertise, findings from the report also showed that 76% of firms surveyed used Kennedys in at least four jurisdictions. We rank highest for usage in both the UK and Latin America, and this follows considerable growth in the Latin America region, where we now have the largest reach of any insurance firm after extending our footprint to eleven territories earlier this year.

The survey also reinforced our strong capability across all lines of business, ranking us highest for usage across our energy, casualty/non-marine, property and marine practices.

Gracechurch Consulting interviewed claims professionals in the London Market between May and July of this year. Those insurers interviewed represent over 80% of the insurance capacity within the London Market, and comprise claims directors, heads of claims, claims managers and claims adjusters.

Published every three to five years, the report rates law firms across a variety of areas including: usage (market share), share of mind (market reputation/brand), service quality, loyalty/recommendation, marketing communications and pricing.

Commenting on the results of the latest Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report, Kennedys’ senior partner, Nick Thomas, says: “What this survey tells us is that our strategic recruitment supporting our UK and global growth, backed up by excellent levels of service, continues to be recognised by our clients – who are at the heart of everything we do.

“As we have grown as a firm, so has the network of specialists that our clients can access. We will continue to strive to maintain this positive momentum, offering our clients enhanced expertise and an unrivalled level of service around the world.”

Gracechurch is a unique research and advisory business focused on the global (re)insurance sector.