History

A brief history of our growth.

Kennedys has a rich history of delivering straightforward advice, even when the issues are complex, to help clients navigate challenges, today and tomorrow. Since 1899 we have been listening to our clients’ needs and we will continue to expand our global footprint in recognition of how the insurance market develops and where our clients need us.

2024

Meg Catalano named Kennedys' global managing partner.
New Zealand specialist dispute resolution firm Darroch Forrest merges with Kennedys, establishing a new office in Wellington (New Zealand).
Los Angeles, CA (US) office opens
Seattle, WA (US) office opens
Kennedys wins Claims Team of the Year: British Claims Awards
Kennedys wins Cyber Law Firm of the Year Award at the Cyber Insurance Awards Europe 2024

2023

Forms a new association with KRK (Kieszkowska Rutkowska Kolasiński) in Poland
Insurance Times tech and insurance awards – ‘Technology venture of the year – claims’ - Bronze winner for Kennedys IQ and The AA
LMG Life Science Awards EMEA 2023 – Winner ‘Impact case of the year’
Fort Lauderdale, FL (US) office opens
Newcastle (England) office opens
Forms new association with AZ Cardoso Advogados (AZC) in Brazil.
Forms new association with Next Advokater in Sweden.

2022

Forms new association with PALM Legal in Portugal
Houston, TX (US) office opens
Brisbane (Australia) office opens
Forms association with López del Solar in Bolivia and Tobar ZVS in Ecuador
Wilmington, DE (US) office opens

2021

Forms new association with Baysal & Demir in Turkey
Perth (Australia) office opens
Leeds (England) office opens following acquisition of 36 strong insurance team from Langleys

2020

Muscat (Sultanate of Oman) office opens
Tel Aviv (Israel) office opens
Kennedys wins Innovation in strategy and digital transformation award for Kennedys IQ at The FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2020
4 associate offices open in Canada following our association with Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
San Francisco, CA (US) office opens
Kennedys wins Best New Solution for Clients award at the Managing Partners’ Forum Awards
Kennedys IQ, a separate technology driven company that combines human and machine intelligence, is launched

2019

Kennedys becomes first international law firm to establish a presence in each of the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Panama through three Associations
Nick Thomas, Senior Partner is named Managing Partner of the Year at The Legal Business Awards
Kennedys winner of Innovation in the business of law - new products and services award at The FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2019
Suzanne Liversidge named Kennedys' first global managing partner, to work alongside the senior partner on the strategic and operational management of the firm.
Bristol (England) office opens

2018

Buenos Aires (Argentina) office opens.

2017

Kennedys wins UK Law Firm of the Year at British Legal Awards
Hamilton (Bermuda) office opens
Paris (France) office opens
Bangkok (Thailand) office opens
Manchester (England) commercial litigation firm Berg & Co (berg) merges with Kennedys
Melbourne (Australia) office opens
US insurance law firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK) merges with Kennedys, establishing new US offices in Austin, TX; Basking Ridge, NJ; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; and Philadelphia, PA
Mexico City (Mexico) office opens.

2016

Marine and shipping firm Waltons & Morse (London) merges with Kennedys
Kennedys wins The Legal 500 UK Firm of the Year for insurance (regional) and transport (travel)
Santiago (Chile) and Bogota (Colombia) offices open
Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Lima (Peru) offices open
Kennedys wins Legal Technology Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards
Danish firm Advokatfirmaet Erritzøe merges with Kennedys and we acquire an office in Copenhagen (Denmark).

2015

Edinburgh and Glasgow (Scotland) offices open
Kennedys enters in to a joint legal venture with Singapore firm, Legal Solutions LLC.

2014

Kennedys gains Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence.

2013

Kennedys merges with Gates and Partners and acquires a new office in Brussels (Belgium).

2011

Dublin (Ireland) office opens.

2010

Sheffield (England) and Miami (for Latin America) offices open
Kennedys wins Law Firm of the Year and Insurance Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards
Kennedys converts to an LLP.

2008

Manchester (England), Singapore and Taunton (England) offices open
Kennedys merges with Davies Lavery and acquires offices in Birmingham and Maidstone (England).

2006

Dubai (UAE) and Sydney (Australia) offices open.

2005

Madrid (Spain) and Chelmsford (England) offices open.

2004

Cambridge (England) office opens.

2000

Hong Kong and Auckland (New Zealand) offices open.

1996

Belfast (Northern Ireland) office opens.

1899

Kennedys was founded.

Founded in 1899

After qualifying as a Barrister and Solicitor in the State of Victoria, Australia, UK-born Charles Frederick Kennedy moved to London, qualified as a Solicitor in England and became a Partner at Paddison, Chapelle & Kennedy.

Over the years, Kennedy was in several partnerships: Kennedy, Danvers & Co; C. Frederick Kennedy & Co; Kennedy Lindo & Co; and Kennedy Genese & Co.

Sadly, Kennedy was taken ill and passed away in 1942 at the age of 79.

Genese recollects Kennedy well:

Kennedy had an Australian accent ... and a keen sense of humour. He was friendly and talkative with a booming voice and a very friendly personality. He was a man of strong character and was very proud and nothing would have pleased him more to know that Kennedys had grown to its present day size.

Genese took over the practice, keeping the name of the firm, before expanding and becoming Kennedy, Genese & Syson and later Kennedy, Genese, Syson & Lewis.

In the 1960s, Partner Eric Lewis noticed that people were getting tongue tied with the name at the time 'Kennedy, Genese, Syson & Lewis' and suggested that the name was shortened. At the same time John F. Kennedy had just become President of the USA and was very much "in the fashion".

A neutral name of 'Kennedys' was agreed and the firm has continued to practice under this name ever since.