‘Unmatched in her knowledge’: Kennedys announces new Innovator of the Year

We are delighted to announce our second ‘Innovator of the Year’ award as we continue to recognise and reward colleagues’ efforts to transform legal services.

Sandip Sidhu impressed our judges with her commitment to supporting Kennedys IQ, our award-winning company launched in 2020 to develop smart technology products for clients. She was described as “essential” to its work and “unmatched in her knowledge, efforts and enthusiasm” by colleagues who put her forward.

In particular, she was praised for promoting products to clients and potential clients, including devising and delivering training, and securing countless new instructions in the process.

Sandip, a legal director based in Birmingham who specialises in a broad range of motor and personal injury claims, fought off strong competition from across the firm, with her four fellow shortlisted nominees stretching as far as San Francisco.

The in-house competition is open to anyone below partner level who has gone above and beyond to support Kennedys’ commitment to client service and innovation.

Richard West, partner and head of client innovation, says it is this that sets Kennedys apart from other firms, adding: “Over the past few years we have successfully established ourselves as a leader in lawtech and insurtech, developing a series of truly ground-breaking products to streamline and redefine the way our clients do business."

“That was and is a team effort and that’s what this award is all about: recognising the excellent ideas and contributions from our colleagues across the world.”

Karim Derrick, product and innovation director, Kennedys IQ, said: “Sandip has been a brilliant advocate of our work and an example of the real focus and dedication innovation requires. It is with great pleasure that we present her with this award, which is so richly deserved. We would like to thank everyone who took part, showing that the commitment to innovation and our clients is firm-wide.”

Sandip was presented with the award, which includes a cash prize, at a ceremony attended virtually and in person by more than 300 colleagues across our global network. She follows in the footsteps of Chris Stubbs, who won the inaugural award in 2020 and is now a product manager in the IQ team.

The award is one of a series of initiatives designed to promote innovation across the firm, including the ‘Ideas Lab’, which invites colleagues to submit ideas for future products and services to help clients manage claims more effectively, with less reliance on lawyers.

The recent Ideas Lab 2.0 generated 95 submissions, with 12 technology ideas being shortlisted, before three ideas were chosen to be developed to prototype stage by the Kennedys IQ team. A decision will then be made whether to invest in the ideas and create the products.