The new position strengthens the career structure for senior lawyers
Kennedys has elevated 44 lawyers across its offices in the UK, EMEA, Singapore and Latin America to the newly created legal director role in a landmark promotions round.
The new position “creates a stronger career structure for senior lawyers at the firm, recognising experienced and technically excellent lawyers who have progressed beyond the senior associate level,” the firm said. In Hong Kong, the equivalent role is of counsel, while in Australia and Bangkok, the corresponding position is special counsel.
Under the new structure, senior associates can either ascend to legal director or to partner as the next step in their career progression. Legal directors may also make partner.
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“The new structure is closely linked with Kennedys’ growth agenda and international focus. The fact that we have been able to make so many promotions this year is testament to how members of our global team have risen to the challenges presented by the pandemic and have demonstrated renewed dedication, hard work, commitment and resilience. We’re all the stronger for it,” global senior partner Nick Thomas said.
Kennedys global HR director Caroline Wilson explained that the amended career structure clarifies what lawyers need to do in order to move up the ladder at the firm.
“The creation of the legal director role is part of our continued efforts to invest in our people across the business, whether it’s those at the very start of their careers or our senior fee-earners. This change to our career structure gives our lawyers a clear understanding of what they need to do in order to progress their careers at Kennedys, with different options available to suit individuals’ particular skills and experience,” she said. “The role has been in place in Australia for a number of years, and we’ve now introduced it globally.”
Lawyers who receive a promotion to legal director/of counsel/special counsel will be asked to participate in Kennedys’ global leadership programme, which is designed to help lawyers build on their market presence and bolster their practice. The programme also aims to improve participants’ leadership capability and expand their global strategic networks.
The 44 lawyers who make up the inaugural batch of legal directors are as follows:
EMEA
- Heidi Bloch – insurance and commercial, Denmark (Copenhagen)
- Medea Peterson – insurance, Denmark (Copenhagen)
- Martina O'Mahoney – liability, Ireland (Dublin)
- Jose Pellicer – insurance, Spain (Madrid)
Latin America
- Catalina Botero – insurance, Colombia (Bogotá)
- Juan Puerto – insurance, Colombia (Bogotá)
- Vanessa Vargas – insurance, Mexico (Mexico City)
UK
- Frances Thompson – insurance, Belfast
- Megan Boyd – insurance, Belfast
- Angela Fisher – insurance, Birmingham
- Avinder Sidhu – healthcare, Birmingham
- Katie Tonks – healthcare, Birmingham
- Sandip Sidhu – liability, Birmingham
- Louise Houliston – liability, Edinburgh
- Alex Riley – liability, London
- Alex Scard – commercial, London
- Anna Haigh – insurance, London
- Ben Appleton – liability, London
- Darren Bradshaw – commercial, London
- David Froome – healthcare, London
- David Robinson – insurance, London
- Debbie Larkin – insurance, London
- Dónal Clark – insurance, London
- Elizabeth Wheal – insurance, London
- Erica Aldridge – commercial, London
- Felicity Ingram – insurance, London
- Karishma Paroha – insurance, London
- Laura Madders – insurance, London
- Nathalie Smyth – insurance, London
- Nicola Pangbourne – insurance, London
- Rekha Cooke – insurance, London
- Rhys Davies – insurance, London
- Robin White – insurance, London
- Russell Wright – insurance, London
- Shaan Burton – insurance, London
- Stephanie Power – liability, London
- Tim Hague – insurance, London
- Andrew Davidson – commercial, Manchester
- Lucy Suddaby – insurance, Manchester
- Scott Nightingale – insurance, Manchester
- Geoffrey Shreeve – insurance, Manchester
- Laura Siddall – liability, Sheffield
- Danielle De Val – insurance, Taunton
- Michelle Johnston – insurance, Taunton
The firm also promoted 86 to senior associate.
“Congratulations to all 132 who have been promoted. They deserve it. The promotions send a clear message that we offer great progression opportunities across the firm. We want to keep developing career structures that attract and retain top talent across our global offices,” Kennedys global managing partner Suzanne Liversidge said.