Global law firm Kennedys has continued to grow its Australian business with the addition of two commercial litigation experts to its Melbourne team.
Commercial litigation partner Jane Kupsch (pictured above) and senior associate Lucy Reade, both formerly at Piper Alderman, joined Kennedys’ rapidly growing Melbourne office. Prior to Piper Alderman, the two have worked together at boutique litigation firm Brian Ward & Partners.
Kupsch specialises in the defence of litigation arising from large-scale corporate collapses, regulatory investigations, and in a wide range of commercial and shareholder disputes. She is accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) as a specialist in commercial litigation and chairs LIV’s commercial litigation specialist advisory committee. She is also listed in Best Lawyers Australia for class action litigation.
Reade meanwhile brings to the firm expertise in litigation as well as significant experience in the use of technology to manage large-scale disputes. She previously worked in London advising on remediation projects for major financial institutions.
Kupsch’s “appointment comes at a time of significant growth, especially in our Melbourne office which has tripled in size to 30 staff since we opened in late 2017,” said Matt Andrews, managing partner of Kennedys in Australia. “Jane is an absolute all-rounder whose experience perfectly aligns with our business priorities. She is a trusted adviser to her clients when litigation is necessary, but she also provides strategic and practical pre-litigation advice to companies and their boards on matters including risk management and insurance.”
In the last 12 months, Kennedys has increased its staff numbers in Australia by 25% and has significantly boosted its senior staff ranks with the appointment of special counsels Maya Parbhoo (medical negligence and healthcare liability), Bryan Mueller (industrial relations and administrative law), and Jonathon Lees (financial lines insurance and subrogation), and senior associates Jasmine Sandhu (personal injury) and Naomi Cooper, who was promoted in September.
“Our strategy of growth centered on client need continues apace, and our focus on attracting the highest calibre of talent is paying two of two dividends,” said Nick Thomas, senior partner at Kennedys. “I’m delighted with how the firm is developing in Australia and fully expect that growth to continue there and across the globe.”
