Global law firm Kennedys is opening its first West Coast office and has added a four-member partner team. The office is located in San Francisco.
Kennedys said that it is opening the office in response to “significant demand” from US and global clients for the firm to have a California presence. The new office will open with four partners from Hinshaw & Culbertson: Forrest Booth, Erik Kowalewsky, Pamela Schultz and Jonathan Thames.
Booth was senior partner of Hinshaw’s maritime and energy practice. He, Schultz and Thames currently have one of the largest maritime practices in San Francisco, Kennedys said. Booth’s practice is focused on insurance and reinsurance, with an emphasis on defense of claims and disputes, litigation, admiralty and maritime claims, insurance coverage, marine insurance, oil and gas and energy matters. He also advises on matters of commercial general liability.
Kowalewsky has considerable London market experience, Kennedys said. His practice is primarily focused on insurance coverage, including cyber and tech, errors and omissions, directors and officers, professional liability, general liability, property, healthcare, marine and energy.
Schultz’s primary practice area is maritime law, with some insurance coverage and general liability litigation. She has experience in state and federal courts across the US, with an emphasis on maritime litigation.
Thames advises business and insurance clients on complex property, maritime, regulatory and transportation matters. He has particular expertise in aiding underwriters with coverage and recovery problems arising from goods in transit, and in helping shipyards and customers with marine construction issues, Kennedys said.
“We’re starting the new financial year by fulfilling an ongoing commitment to our global strategy of growing our international capabilities based on client need,” said Nick Thomas, senior partner at Kennedys. “This is an exciting milestone to have reached in an important and growing market for us.”
“We have seen significant demand from our existing US clients over the last few years to open in California, and this sees us respond to that,” said Christopher Carroll, a US-based partner who sits on the global strategy board at Kennedys. “The addition of this group will complement our existing capabilities both in the US and globally.”
“Kennedys already has an excellent reputation in the marine and energy sectors, and within the London market,” Booth said. “This new office provides a fantastic opportunity for us to transition to a larger platform adding depth and value to a global offering, which in turn will provide our clients with greater access to a wider network of capabilities.”
