Headquarters:
Sydney
Year founded:
2006
Number of employees:
24 partners and 220 employees
Phone:
+61 2 8215 5999
Email:
bd.marketing@hicksons.com.au
Website:
kennedyslaw.com/en/where-we-are/asia-pacific/australia
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/kennedys
“We love to win. We’re tenacious, and we believe in getting results”
Brett Vincent,
Vincent Young Lawyers
Matt Andrews
Regional Managing Partner, APAC
Jonathan Wyatt
Managing Partner, Australia
Stephanie Cook
Partner, Brisbane Office Lead
Leadership
Matt Andrews is Kennedys’ APAC Managing Partner and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Group. He is responsible for the firm’s management in the region and also maintains a busy practice as a highly regarded insurance lawyer specialising in financial lines, property, construction and trade credit claims for local, London market and global clients.
Regional Managing Partner, APAC
Matt Andrews
Jonathan Wyatt is Kennedys’ Australian Managing Partner and also leads the Perth office. He is regarded as one of Western Australia’s leading lawyers and specialises in financial lines, property, casualty and marine claims. Jonathan has acted in a number of high-profile disputes, including cases in the Federal and High Courts of Australia and the Supreme Court of WA, as well as handling arbitrations in Australia, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
Managing Partner, Australia
Jonathan Wyatt
Stephanie Cook leads the Brisbane office and specialises in complex first party property insurance disputes, multi-party property liability claims, and matters involving suspected fraud and professional indemnity claims, particularly against construction professionals.
Partner, Brisbane Office Lead
Stephanie Cook
Leadership
“A true leader can see potential in different employees, regardless of their position. Listening and recognizing the value of each individual not only inspires them but also makes them grow professionally”
Saray Uribe,
CharSan Insurance & Consulting
Leadership
Cindy Tucker
Partner, Melbourne Office Lead
Cindy Tucker leads Kennedys’ Melbourne office and Australian healthcare team. She works with international and local insurers and re-insurers across a wide range of medical malpractice matters, including representing medical professionals and hospitals who are the subject of negligence claims and disciplinary proceedings.
Partner, Melbourne Office Lead
Cindy Tucker
James Melvin
Partner, Sydney Office Lead
James Melvin leads the Sydney office and is a senior member of the national insurance team. He specialises in advising insurers on policy-related matters and defending professional indemnity, financial institutions, commercial litigation, and construction and engineering claims. James has advised on some of the market’s most complex and high-profile claims relating to Australian financial institutions and large mining losses.
Partner, Sydney Office Lead
James Melvin
Kennedys is not only an Australian and global leader in insurance, healthcare and commercial law, but is also independently recognised as an outstanding place to work and advance a career – for both lawyers and support professionals.
For the fifth consecutive year, Kennedys has been honoured as one of Australasian Lawyer’s 5-Star Employers of Choice. This accolade reflects the firm’s genuine commitment to providing the best workplace possible for its employees, supported by a positive and inclusive culture, career development opportunities, competitive remuneration and benefits, work-life balance and an unwavering focus on wellbeing.
Kennedys values leadership at every level, and its mentoring and coaching programs are integral to the firm’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders. The firm’s people are genuinely committed to developing the careers of those around them and providing opportunities to work on market-defining and high-stakes matters for a range of major clients and corporates in the industries they serve.
Diversity, inclusion and responsibility are also key priorities for Kennedys. The firm is proud that women make up 55% of the partnership in Australia, positioning it among the leading firms in achieving gender balance in senior ranks.
To discover firsthand why Kennedys is an Employer of Choice, reach out to the HR team or speak with any of the firm’s talented professionals to hear their personal experiences.
Mitch Grant
Director, Operational Excellence
Perry Thomas
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk and Capital Committee
Shirel Stedman
Non-Executive Director
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Mitch leads the Operational Excellence function that brings together the firm’s experts in knowledge, legal operations and research services. This team is responsible for shaping the way Maddocks lawyers work, ensuring the delivery of exceptional client experiences.
Director, Operational Excellence
Mitch Grant
Perry Thomas is a non-executive director and chair of Risk and Capital Committee. He’s an actuary with over 30 years of experience in financial services in roles including CEO, CRO and group chief actuary. He’s held directorships in the UK, Bermuda, Ireland, India, South Africa, Malta and Luxembourg, and has been on the Council of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Thomas is dyslexic, which he believes can bring a different perspective.
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk and Capital Committee
Perry Thomas
Shirel Stedman is a non-executive director. She is also a fellow chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). Stedman brings over 30 years of experience as a civil engineer who has spent most of her career working on flood resilience, climate change and water issues across the public and private sectors.
Non-Executive Director
Shirel Stedman
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
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Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
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Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
“We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible”
Brett Vincent,
Vincent Young Lawyers
“Having four insurance designations, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with it, enables me to better counsel customers regarding the importance of having the appropriate insurance coverage”
Saray Uribe,
CharSan Insurance & Consulting
employee benefits
regional retail P&C
specialty P&C
underwriting
direct-to-consumer programs
Underscoring the value proposition the firm offers, Vincent says, “Our clients get direct access to our partners. We are always available, and we pride ourselves on being highly responsive. We are lean and efficient. Our work is of the quality of larger law firms, without the price tag.”
To operate optimally for clients, the firm engaged the founder of a major construction management company to be chairman. Under their guidance, Vincent Young has expanded its practice areas to include property, projects, commercial and insolvency law. Today, Vincent Young is advised by a chairman and two advisors, none of whom are lawyers, resulting in invaluable industry insight and client-side perspective.
“The balance between technical legal skills and proactive solutions lies at the heart of our business and our success in legal matters,” says Vincent. “We believe in handling our clients’ matters as if they were our own, and with this approach, we seek solutions wherever possible.”
more than $1 million in funds
over $2.3 million in combined monetary and in-kind donations through an annual World Food Derby initiative
2,320 volunteer hours to numerous deserving organizations, making a significant community impact
Alliant’s progress is set to continue, as underlined by Zimmer, who has confidence in the firm’s people to deliver continued excellence.
“We believe in our business plan, and it has proven successful. We don’t feel the need to change that. Our core business plan will continue to drive the company forward, complemented by new opportunities that may arise in the future.”
Turnaround time – claims
Turnaround time – new business
Overall
02 9261 5900