Kennedys strengthens Australian employment liability practice

We are pleased to confirm that we have again expanded our Australian arm with the appointment of employment practices specialist Justin Claude Le Blond as a partner in our Sydney office. Justin is joined by senior associate Persephone Forster, adding strength to a strategic area of practice in Australia. Both were formerly at HWL Ebsworth.

We act for several insurers on employment matters and these appointments underscore our commitment to building a leading EPL practice.

“As with the recent opening of our office in Melbourne, we are reinforcing our commitment to the Australian market by expanding our capacity to service national clients,” says Australian managing partner Matt Andrews.

“Justin and Persephone are talented and experienced employment specialists who have the industry expertise and proven track record that our clients demand.”

Justin practises in employment and industrial relations law, work health and safety, both in advisory and litigated matters. He acts for a number of large insurers, as well as commercial clients across a range of sectors including insurance, manufacturing and engineering, healthcare, property, professional services, IT, transport and government.

Persephone has a combined advisory and litigation practice with a focus on employment law, industrial relations and employment strategy including internal and external communications, administrative law, restraints of trade, protecting confidential information, payroll tax, corporate governance, enquiries and disciplinary hearings.

“I am delighted to welcome Justin and Persephone to the firm,” said Matt Andrews. “They have established themselves as an effective team and their expertise across the spectrum of employment and workplace issues will be of great value to our clients.”

Justin is the 22nd global lateral partner appointed by us in 2017. He joins casualty partner Michael Kavanagh who was appointed in August to lead the firm’s new office in Melbourne.

Worldwide in 2017, we have reinforced our position as a truly global firm, completing mergers with US insurance law firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK) and Manchester-based commercial litigation specialists berg. We have has also opened new offices in Bermuda, Paris, Bangkok, Melbourne and Mexico City and launched a formal association with Italian firm Studio Legale Rinaldi Associati.