Legal expertise is just the beginning

Kennedys is a specialist national and international legal firm with unrivalled expertise in litigation and dispute resolution. We have over 800 people globally, across nine UK and seven international locations. Our lawyers provide a range of specialist legal services for many industries including: insurance/reinsurance, healthcare, construction, employment, rail sectors, maritime and international trade - with a particular focus on dispute resolution and litigation.

Kennedys is a top 50 law firm. We are regarded as leaders, not just because we have some of the most respected legal minds in their field - but because we know it's important to be practical, commercial and approachable. We give clear legal advice. That means:

Of course we care about the law but we're also here to make your life easier by making the law make sense for your business. We call this:

Legal advice in black and white

Kennedys' Employment Brief - July 2010

In this month’s Employment Brief we look at the terms of collective agreements in employment contracts and discuss the issues concerning caps on how much employees can receive under a contractual redundancy scheme. We also summarise the 2009/2010 Annual Statistics for the Tribunals Service, as well as providing an update on the Equality Act. Read more.

Kennedys' Insurance Brief - July 2010

In this month's issue of Insurance Brief, we report on an unsuccessful appeal against an arbitral award relating to various reinsurance policies, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the European Court of Justice’s preliminary ruling in O’Byrne v Aventis Pasteur SA, concerning the substitution of defendants after limitation has expired in product liability cases and the successful appeal of a solicitor’s professional negligence claim on causation.

We also include a feature article written by Laura Mellstrom of our Dubai office. The article focuses on arbitration in the region in light of a new draft Arbitration Law which is expected to be passed later this year. Read more.

Kennedys’ motor e-update: Autofocus request of Court Appeal to deal with immunity rule dismissed

Credit hire company Accident Exchange have an ongoing claim against Autofocus Limited seeking unlimited damages on the grounds that evidence had been allegedly fabricated in a number of cases, thereby misleading both the court and Accident Exchange and resulting in lower sums being awarded or accepted. Autofocus took the case to the Court of Appeal and the Court was asked to deal with a technical issue relating to witness immunity…read more

Kennedys' Liability Brief - July 2010

In this edition of Liability Brief Khalid Mahmood reports on a recent Court of Appeal decision on Part 36 offers and, in our feature article, Kate Prestidge provides practical advice on dealing with claims brought by litigants in person. Read more.

Kennedys opens office in Sheffield

We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Sheffield office on 12 July 2010. Located over two floors at the flagship Sheffield Digital Campus – view details, the office is headed by partner Suzanne Liversidge. Contact s.liversidge@kennedys-law.com or Mark King, Head of Business Development m.king@kennedys-law.com.

Kennedys' Medical Law Brief - July 2010

In this edition of Medical Law Brief our feature article discusses the issue of health authorities being faced with uninsured asbestos related claims which have not been reserved for.

We also summarise two recently reported Kennedys' cases, the first where substantial damages were awarded for missed third degree tear following delivery.  Damages were exceptional in this case due to the severity of the injury requiring implantation of electrically stimulated gracilis neosphincter. The second case of C v Colchester Hospitals records an out of court settlement agreed to reflect litigation risks of Claimant succeeding in establishing his conservative treatment of pancreatitis led to an additional period of recovery of up to 60 days. Read more.

Kennedys' Life and Health Briefing - June 2010

In Kennedys’ latest Life and Health Briefing, we review the Law Commission consultation on whether insurers should pay a policyholder for late payment of claims. We highlight the issues surrounding the fact that England is out of step with other jurisdictions and discusses whether insurance claims should be treated differently.

We also report on the recent House of Lords decision in HMRC v Stringer & others [10.6.09] meaning employees on long-term sick leave accrue statutory holiday entitlement. Read more.