Jennifer Harris, Richard West, Claire Mulligan and Gareth Thomas will all join as partners from Kennedys, while Victoria Kennedy will join as a partner from DAC Beachcroft. Jennifer joined DWF earlier this month, while Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria will all join the firm in the coming months.
Jennifer has more than 30 years’ experience, and a strong track-record in defending complex and high value liability claims, including catastrophic injuries such as brain and spinal injuries, amputations and chronic pain. She was Managing Partner of Kennedy's Chelmsford office.
Richard was Global Head of Kennedys' Liability Defence and was also Head of Kennedys' Client Innovation teams. Recognised by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s most innovative lawyers, Richard has extensive expertise in complex, high-value and reputationally sensitive injury cases.
Claire strengthens DWF’s travel and international litigation offering. She is head of Kennedys’ Travel team and is a nationally recognised expert in overseas injury claims, crisis management and high-profile inquests. Claire has led responses to some of the most complex and sensitive incidents affecting the travel and tourism sector and regularly advises insurers and corporates with large deductibles on risk and regulatory issues.
Gareth is a partner within Kennedys' Travel team. He represents tour operators, cruise liners, insurers and other travel companies in a variety of fast track, multi-track and catastrophic injury claims. He has also acted on commercial litigation involving companies in multiple jurisdictions.
Victoria Kennedy joins from DAC Beachcroft, where she is joint head of the Corporate Insurance and Risk division. A trusted advisor to large corporates and household name brands, Victoria specialises in large loss employers’ and public liability claims, as well as regulatory defence involving HSE investigations, prosecutions and inquests. She is also a respected voice in corporate risk management and crisis communications.
Commenting on the appointments, Claire Bowler, Head of Major Injury and Casualty at DWF, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jennifer to the team, and look forward to Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria joining. Each of them brings outstanding expertise, deep client relationships and a clear commitment to excellence and innovation. Their arrival represents a significant investment and expansion of our services, and positions us strongly for future growth across our major injury and casualty work.”
Matthew Doughty, Group CEO-elect and CEO of DWF’s Insurance Services division, added: “We offer a warm welcome to Jennifer, and are delighted that Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria will be joining us in due course. The calibre and reputation of all five of these partners is exceptional and reflects our strategy to recruit the very best in the market. They are just the latest in a series of senior additions to our global insurance business, which will strengthen our capabilities and extend our global presence."
DWF has around 2,000 people in its global Insurance Services division and is one of the world's leading providers of legal and business services to the insurance industry.
Jennifer has more than 30 years’ experience, and a strong track-record in defending complex and high value liability claims, including catastrophic injuries such as brain and spinal injuries, amputations and chronic pain. She was Managing Partner of Kennedy's Chelmsford office.
Richard was Global Head of Kennedys' Liability Defence and was also Head of Kennedys' Client Innovation teams. Recognised by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s most innovative lawyers, Richard has extensive expertise in complex, high-value and reputationally sensitive injury cases.
Claire strengthens DWF’s travel and international litigation offering. She is head of Kennedys’ Travel team and is a nationally recognised expert in overseas injury claims, crisis management and high-profile inquests. Claire has led responses to some of the most complex and sensitive incidents affecting the travel and tourism sector and regularly advises insurers and corporates with large deductibles on risk and regulatory issues.
Gareth is a partner within Kennedys' Travel team. He represents tour operators, cruise liners, insurers and other travel companies in a variety of fast track, multi-track and catastrophic injury claims. He has also acted on commercial litigation involving companies in multiple jurisdictions.
Victoria Kennedy joins from DAC Beachcroft, where she is joint head of the Corporate Insurance and Risk division. A trusted advisor to large corporates and household name brands, Victoria specialises in large loss employers’ and public liability claims, as well as regulatory defence involving HSE investigations, prosecutions and inquests. She is also a respected voice in corporate risk management and crisis communications.
Commenting on the appointments, Claire Bowler, Head of Major Injury and Casualty at DWF, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jennifer to the team, and look forward to Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria joining. Each of them brings outstanding expertise, deep client relationships and a clear commitment to excellence and innovation. Their arrival represents a significant investment and expansion of our services, and positions us strongly for future growth across our major injury and casualty work.”
Matthew Doughty, Group CEO-elect and CEO of DWF’s Insurance Services division, added: “We offer a warm welcome to Jennifer, and are delighted that Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria will be joining us in due course. The calibre and reputation of all five of these partners is exceptional and reflects our strategy to recruit the very best in the market. They are just the latest in a series of senior additions to our global insurance business, which will strengthen our capabilities and extend our global presence."
DWF has around 2,000 people in its global Insurance Services division and is one of the world's leading providers of legal and business services to the insurance industry.
