Global law firm Kennedys opens office in Leeds

A law firm is opening an office in Leeds as part of its strategy for global expansion.
Leeds is recognised as a hub for legal insurance workLeeds is recognised as a hub for legal insurance work
Leeds is recognised as a hub for legal insurance work

Kennedys is establishing a base in the city after acquiring Langleys’ insurance team. Kennedys - which already has an office in Sheffield - reported a record turnover of £238m last year.

The new Leeds office will be led by David Thompson, formerly the managing partner and head of insurance at Langleys. He will be joined by partners, Huw Edwards, Laura Collins and Carol Dalton along with 32 team heads, lawyers and staff from Langleys` insurance team.

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Richard West, partner and head of liability at Kennedys, said: “Our new Leeds office grows our personal injury division, expanding our practice further with an experienced and well- regarded team whose culture fits closely with our own and whose business complements our existing capability in Scotland, Northern Ireland as well as in eight locations in England.”

“Leeds is recognised as a hub for insurance work and we see real opportunities to expand our legal and claims handling team building further on David and his team’s significant client base which will benefit hugely from the breadth of Kennedys full- service insurance offering.”

Tim Cross, managing partner of Langleys, said: “While there is naturally some sadness in seeing our friends and colleagues leave the firm, this is a move that benefits everyone.

“It allows Langleys to focus on growing its core specialisms and explore new opportunities in the regions we serve, while also enabling the insurance team to benefit from being part of a larger, market-leading, international insurance firm.”

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Over the last year, Kennedys opened its first office on the west coast of the US, in San Francisco, secured an association with Canada’s national insurance law firm Dolden Wallace Folick LLP, and opened a new office in Israel.

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