Kennedys has added a partner to its London base with the hire of product liability specialist Anne Ware from Covington & Burling.

Ware joined Kennedys earlier this month from the US firm's City office, where she has been a partner since 2004.

Prior to joining Covington, Ware spent 24 years at Davies Arnold Cooper. She specialises in advising pharma companies and manufacturers on product liability and personal injury claims.

Kennedys' global head of product liability, Shane Sayers, said: "This is a coup for Kennedys, and forms an integral part of our continued strategic growth and concerted effort to raise the firm's reputation in this sector.

"In addition to bringing considerable pharmaceutical and healthcare expertise to the team, Anne will also reinforce the full service advice we give clients on complex and unusual claims as well as consumer, cosmetic, food and other product related matters."

The news comes after Kennedys announced its annual partner promotions earlier this month, with a trio of lawyers made up across the firm's UK offices.

The firm also boosted its Belfast arm earlier this year with the hire of Arthur Cox local litigation and dispute resolution head Amanda Wylie.