The 19-strong team includes three partners
A 19-strong team from Clyde & Co has crossed over to Kennedys, adding strength to the firm’s insurance practice in Melbourne.
The team comprises 3 partners, 4 special counsel, 5 lawyers and 7 support staff. They commenced with the firm on Monday.
Led by partners Nicole Wearne, Mark Attard and Ganga Narayanan, the team has significant experience with matters involving key insurance lines and sectors. They have worked with both local and global clients.
Kennedys APAC managing partner Matt Andrews indicated that the hire is in line with the firm’s investment in its APAC insurance offering.
“I am delighted to welcome Nicole, Mark, Ganga, and their team to Kennedys in June. Their proven experience and longstanding market relationships add to the existing strength of our Melbourne office and bolster our rapidly growing Australian insurance team’s ability to service local and London market clients across major insurance classes, particularly on the ground in Victoria”, Australian managing partner Jonathan Wyatt said.
Wearne specialises in insurance law and is a litigator. Her practice focuses on professional indemnity, management liability, D&O, class action defence, and coverage claims. She is an expert on Royal Commission matters, and has also tackled regulatory investigations, fidelity matters, and commercial disputes.
For more than three decades, Attard has worked with Australian and London market clients on professional indemnity and general insurance issues for professionals in the construction, financial planning, accounting, legal, healthcare, real estate, travel and insurance intermediaries.
Narayanan has advised on general and life insurance claims and products. She has represented local and London market clients in personal injury, property damage and medical liability claims, coronial inquests, fraud and non-disclosure claims, and life insurance claims.
In addition to their tenure at Clyde & Co, the team had also previously worked together at Norton Rose Fulbright.
Last year, Kennedys also lured ex-Clyde & Co Australian managing partner Lucinda Lyons to its Sydney office.
