International law firm Kennedys has expanded its senior ranks by promoting 21 lawyers to partner in its 2025 annual promotion round. This move increases the firm’s partnership total to 363, up from 349 last year, representing a 23% rise from 2024’s partner appointments and making it the largest such group since 2022.
Regional Promotions
The promotions span offices in key regions including the UK, US, Ireland, and Australia. The UK and US contributed the majority of the new partners, with nine and 10 respectively. Of the new appointees, 13 are men and eight are women.
Practice Area Focus
Sixteen of the 21 promotions were made within Kennedys’ insurance division, covering areas such as professional indemnity, marine, and financial and political risks. The firm’s corporate and commercial group also saw growth, with five appointments across both the UK and the US, including promotions in international arbitration, commercial litigation, and product liability and life sciences.
Insurance Division Highlights
- Several partners specialize in general liability, political risk, and directors’ and officers’ coverage
- Experts in marine insurance and high-value construction liability claims
Litigation and Arbitration
Partners such as Martin West (New York) and Oleg Shaulko (London) focus on commercial disputes and cross-border arbitration.
Leadership Commentary
Kennedys senior partner John Bruce expressed his pleasure in welcoming the new partners, highlighting their exceptional legal expertise and commitment to clients. Global managing partner Meg Catalano described the promotions as part of the firm’s ongoing investment in legal talent, emphasizing that the firm’s people are their greatest competitive advantage.
Global Breakdown of Promotions
- Australia (Perth): Alen Sinanovic
- Ireland (Dublin): Mark Dunne
- US: Cara Vecchione, Jack Gainey, Matthew Gluck (Basking Ridge); Gilda Romano Flam, Jorge Maza (Miami); Eridania Perez, Martin West, Michael Goldwasser (New York); Katie Barksdale (Wilmington); Gavin Fung (Philadelphia)
- UK: Alison Chadwick, Emilie Civatte, Oleg Shaulko, Rekha Cooke, Rhys Tebbett, Rob Calnan, Shaan Burton, Thomas Miles (London); John Pain (Taunton)
Related Developments
The partner appointments follow the firm’s earlier promotion round in September 2024, when 97 employees were advanced to senior associate and legal director levels.
