Richard West

Richard leads our global liability defence group.

Recognised by the Financial Times as one of the most innovative lawyers in Europe, he also spearheads our innovation group and is a director of Kennedys IQ, our award-winning technology arm, that provides innovative solutions for insurance companies and large corporates to help them use lawyers only when they truly need to, and to manage claims efficiently.

Richard is regularly instructed on clients most important, valuable and sensitive matters, and has built an impressive practice since qualifying in England and Wales in 1993. Known as a “visionary partner”, he primarily acts for insurers, third-party administrators, and brokers and corporates with large deductibles, defending motor and casualty claims. His extensive expertise in catastrophic injury claims is second to none, and includes complex liability matters, reputationally sensitive incidents and brain and psychiatric injury. Before specialising in catastrophic injury cases, Richard gathered in-depth experience in all liability matters including employers’, public and property liability.

Described by clients as an “innovative thinker” and “a pioneer” who is “well connected with superb legal knowledge and experience”, he also has significant experience advising clients on indemnity and policy matters, with substantial experience in settling cases involving Periodical Payment Orders.

Richard’s leadership is defined by his bold vision: that lawyers should be empowering their clients to ‘use lawyers less’. He believes that Kennedys should enhance clients’ own skills in the early stages of personal injury litigation in order to ‘de-lawyer the law’.

Guided by his strategic vision, Kennedys IQ secured victory at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2020 in the category of ‘Innovation in Strategy and Digital Transformation.’ In that same year, Kennedys won both ‘Best New Solutions for Clients’ and ‘Best in Client Theme’ at the Managing Partners’ Forum Awards. More recently, Kennedys IQ was named Bronze winner for ‘Technology Partner of the Year’ at the Insurance Times Tech and Innovation Awards 2023 for its claims work with the AA. Additional awards Richard has led the team to success on can be found on our reputation page.

A recognised thought leader, he frequently presents and delivers training sessions, and is an active member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).

Richard conceived and has remained the lead author and editor of Kennedys unique and industry recognised “Claims Handling Law and Practice”. The fifth edition of will be published in 2025.