Kennedys, a global law firm, has enhanced its Australian insurance practice by welcoming three partners and a team of 16 professionals from Clyde & Co in Melbourne.
On June 3, partners Nicole Wearne, Mark Attard, and Ganga Narayanan officially joined Kennedys.
Throughout the month, the new partners will be joined by four special counsel, five lawyers, and a support staff of seven. This team brings extensive experience working with local and international clients in various insurance sectors, having collaborated previously at Norton Rose Fulbright.
“I am delighted to welcome Nicole, Mark, Ganga, and their team to Kennedys in June,” said Jonathan Wyatt, Australian managing partner. “Their proven experience and longstanding market relationships adds to the existing strength of our Melbourne office, and bolsters our rapidly growing Australian insurance team’s ability to service local and London market clients across major insurance classes, particularly on the ground in Victoria.”
“I am very pleased that Nicole, Mark, Ganga, and their team are joining the firm as we continue to invest in our Asia-Pacific insurance capability,” said Matt Andrews, managing partner for APAC. “These hires are consistent with our refreshed, client focused global strategic plan, which includes reinforcing the depth of specialist talent in core global centres.”
Wearne is known for her expertise in insurance litigation, focusing on professional indemnity, management liability, D&O, class action defence, and coverage claims. She has significant experience with Royal Commissions and advises on regulatory investigations, fidelity issues, and commercial disputes.
“Kennedys has an extremely strong reputation in both the local and global insurance markets,” Weare said. “We are excited to be joining at a time when the firm is looking to strategically expand its insurance offering in Australia and leverage innovation to benefit clients while maintaining its focus on being an employer of choice.”
Attard brings over three decades of experience advising clients in the Australian and London markets on professional indemnity and general insurance for various professions, including construction, financial planning, accounting, legal, healthcare, real estate, travel, and insurance intermediaries.
Narayanan specialises in both general and life insurance claims and products. She represents local and London market clients in cases of personal injury, property damage, medical liability, coronial inquests, fraud, non-disclosure, and life insurance claims.
The addition of this team brings the number of Kennedys partners in Australia to 24. This follows the inclusion of Lucinda Lyons and her team of 12 in Sydney in December and the promotion of Nathan Buck and Con Kakakios to partner in May.
Additionally, Mark Errington is set to join in July to lead Kennedys’ property, construction, and energy practice in Singapore.
