Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas (pictured) has been re-elected for his fourth term at the helm of the firm following an uncontested election at the close of last year.

Thomas, who will start his new five-year term later this month, has held the role since 1996 and also stood uncontested in his last election in 2007.

He will continue to manage the UK top 50 practice alongside chief executive Guy Stobart, who joined the firm as chief executive in September 2009 from Burges Salmon, where he was managing partner.

Thomas has overseen a period of strong growth at the insurance-focused firm, which last summer posted a double-digit increase in revenues for the third consecutive year after entering the UK top 50 rankings for the first time in 2009.

The firm's performance in 2010-11 saw turnover rise 10% to £96.8m, while profits per equity partner increased 5% to £400,000 last year, up from £380,000 in 2009-10.

The firm has also expanded its international footprint significantly in recent times, merging with its Portuguese alliance partner Almeida & Athayde and Dublin associate office O'Hare O'Connor Walshe last year.

The mergers were followed by an entrance into the Brazilian market through an association with local firm Torres Marcelino & Associados in June 2011, with further international growth expected over the coming year.

Other factors to have contributed to Kennedys' rapid growth in recent years include the December 
2009 hire of a 70-strong team – including eight partners – from Halliwells, which 
saw the firm launch a new arm in Sheffield.