Kennedys Makes Flurry of Partner Hires From Rivals, Adds Four-Lawyer DWF Team
The firm further bolsters its professional liability capabilities with hires from DAC Beachcroft and RPC.
September 02, 2019 at 05:47 AM
2 minute read
Kennedys has hired six lawyers – including four partners – from its rivals, as the firm looks to bolster its professional liability practice.
Joining three separate offices, the new hires include a four-lawyer team from DWF, alongside partners from DAC Beachcroft and RPC.
DWF partners Paul Chaplin and Steve Oates join Kennedys' Birmingham office, alongside two associates. Both Chaplin and Oates joined DWF at the beginning of 2017, with Chaplin heading up the firm's Birmingham-based professional indemnity practice.
Professional indemnity specialist Paul Castellani, who will be based in the firm's London office, also joins Kennedys from RPC where he has been a partner for 10 years.
Completing the quartet of partner hires, DAC Beachcroft partner Helen Ager will head up the professional liability team at Kennedys' Taunton office.
Agar was previously a partner and managing partner at legacy firm Crutes. In 2012, she oversaw the merger of Crutes with DWF, subsequently becoming an executive partner of DWF's Newcastle office. In 2016, she moved with the firm's Newcastle insurance team over to DAC Beachcroft.
Agar's appointment comes after Kennedys lost a seven–lawyer team in July, including four partners – Sarah Cornish, Andrew Crocombe, Simon Combe and Rob Wotherspoon – all of whom were based in the firm's Taunton office.
The departures came alongside a further nine-lawyer loss – including three partners – from its Chelmsford office, with all lawyers joining Plexus Law.
The latest flurry of hires follows the appointment last month of Suzanne Liversidge as Kennedys' first ever global managing partner.
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