Michael Hennessy
Michael.Hennessy@kennedyslaw.com
+1 305 374 8066
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Profile
Mike is the founding partner of the Mexico City office as well as the Head of Large or Complex Claims and Reinsurance for Mexico.
Mike joined Kennedys in 2011 on relocating to Miami from London. Originally from Mexico, he is an English qualified solicitor and a Mexican qualified lawyer and commenced his legal career with a leading law firm in London in 2006. He is one of Mexico's foremost legal experts in insurance matters. He specialises in insurance and reinsurance coverage advice and dispute resolution and has vast expertise in Latin America and more particularly in Mexico.
As the Head of Large or Complex Claims and Reinsurance, Mike is the key contact on large or complex claims and reinsurance matters in Mexico in all industry sectors including liability, energy, property including business interruption and advance loss of profits, mining, marine, aviation, directors & officers, errors & omissions, catastrophic risks, engineering risks and operational policies in Mexico.
Mike regularly speaks at industry events and publishes on matters concerning the insurance industry in Mexico and the Latin American region. He is a native English and Spanish speaker and also works in Portuguese and French.
Mike contributed to Kennedys' 'Global forecast 2024: Evolving insurance risks' report, published in January 2024.
Mike also contributed to the fourth edition of Kennedys’ Global Legal Handbook, one of our most popular guides, which outlines the main legal and procedural issues that case handlers may encounter when dealing with claims across 53 jurisdictions globally.
Qualifications
- Qualified in England and Wales in 2008
Michael Hennessy is my go-to lawyer in Mexico; he perfectly manages our most complex cases and provides a good service.
Market recognition
- Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Michael Hennessy is my go-to lawyer in Mexico; he perfectly manages our most complex cases and provides a good service."
Chambers Latin America 2025 - Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Michael Hennessy is certainly an excellent head of office; he provides an excellent service, always trying to find solutions and alternatives."
Chambers Latin America 2024 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Hennessy specialises in insurance and reinsurance coverage advice and and dispute resolution."
The Legal 500 Latin America 2023 - Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Mexico City-based partner Michael Hennessy is highlighted for his role advising clients on coverage analyses and insurance litigation. He comes highly recommended by interviewees, with one stating: 'Michael Hennessy is a great lawyer and an insurance expert.' Another respondent adds: 'He is a young and hard-working lawyer who handles high-profile cases.'"
Chambers Latin America 2023 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Michael Hennessy heads the 16-strong practice at Kennedys in Mexico."
The Legal 500 Latin America 2022 - Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Mexico City-based partner Michael Hennessy is highlighted for his role advising clients on coverage analyses and insurance litigation. One interviewee says: 'Michael Hennessy is a lawyer with significant technical knowledge of the insurance sphere. His experience is enriched by the practice he has had in other jurisdictions.'"
Chambers Latin America 2022 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Mike Hennesy has a comprehensive knowledge of insurance law and the market in general. His knowledge and attentive 24/7 availability makes him stand out from the competition."
The Legal 500 Latin America 2021 - Notable practitioner and ranked lawyer for 'Insurance (Mexico)'
"Partner Michael Hennessy enters the rankings this year after receiving strong endorsements from peers and clients. One interviewee appreciates that 'he puts himself in your shoes as a client', while another says: 'He understands issues very quickly and I value his skill in summarising a complex problem in just a few words'. Hennessy is highlighted for his role advising clients on coverage analyses and insurance litigation."
Chambers Latin America 2021 - The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Report 2019
“I think he's quite forward thinking, nice, short to the point reports. He's quick to the mark and a good advocate.”
Awards
Work highlights
- Acting for international reinsurers on the highest profile energy losses in Mexico in the last decade, both onshore and offshore.
- Acting for a large international insurer under a number of policies on the largest loss of life, injury and damage to property loss in Mexico in the last 30 years, related to the first joint venture between the Mexican oil company and a large multinational company.
- Acting for reinsurers on the liability programme for a Mexican electricity company.
- Acting for various insurers following storm/hurricane damage caused by hurricane Odile in Mexico.
- Acting for international insurers in a variety of complex financial market losses in Mexico, including errors and omissions coverage as well as directors’ and officers’ liability.
Aviation
Banking and finance
Construction and engineering
Healthcare
Information technology
Insurance and reinsurance
Life sciences
Public sector
Rail
Retail
Shipping and international trade
Sport
Transport and logistics
Travel and tourism