Firms

Kennedys

Web:  www.kennedys-law.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Web:  www.kennedys-law.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Survey results

Survey results

 

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 

 ''Its litigation focus and regional presence'; 'the international presence and growth rate of the firm'; 'good work/life balance'; 'excellent commercial litigation experience'' 

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 

 ''The firm offers good-quality work but you also get adequate support and supervision'; 'the training is better'; 'you get adequate support and supervision': 'more consistent hours'; 'much more responsibility'; 'more responsibility and challenging work'; 'less hands-on legal work'; 'my supervisors are much more down-to-earth and approachable'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Everyone is friendly and approachable including the majority of the partners'; 'the people'; 'frequent social activities involving the whole firm'; 'level of responsibility'; 'good work/life balance'; 'the London office is incredible!'; 'the firm encourages you to voice any interests or work preferences you may have'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''The firm is still slightly London-focused'; 'the level of responsibility and type of work can vary between departments'; 'focus tends to be around the London trainees, both in terms of work and socialising'; 'HR and general administrative departments have not grown and improved on par with the rest of the firm'; 'can be competitive for the most popular seats'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Attending a mediation at the IDRC on a professional negligence matter'; 'surviving a hearing at the County Court in front of a district judge'; 'good feedback from partners and encouraging reviews'; 'getting my own files'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Getting the blame for someone else's mistake and not being able to defend myself'; 'preparing for a hearing at the County Court'; 'heavy document work in preparation for major international arbitration'; 'reviewing around 100,000 documents for a disclosure exercise''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

Kennedys has a well-established and well-respected disputes-orientated practice, and has dramatically increased resources since the Davies Lavery merger in 2008. Now with nine UK offices, in 2009 it scooped a team from Hextalls in London, along with a team from DLA Piper in Birmingham, and in 2010 opened a Sheffield office with a large team from Halliwells. 

The star performers

Clinical negligence: defendant; Construction; Health and safety; Insurance and reinsurance litigation; Personal injury: defendant; Product liability: defendant; Professional negligence; Rail; Shipping.

The deals

Acted for an architect client of Novae Insurers; representing a journalist client of Hiscox Insurance in Northern Ireland's first test of the 'reasonable journalist' defence.

The clients

Medical Professional Liability Company; NHSLA.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended Insurance team of the year. 

The Verdict

With its strong litigation focus and excellent reputation, Kennedys is a great firm for those looking to 'feel like part of an industry and not just a law firm'. A Lex 100 Winner for manageable stress levels, current trainees feel like they are always given 'adequate support and supervision'. With a decent work/life balance and active social life be prepared for plenty of responsibility running your own files and to get involved in the firm's marketing. Time and again trainees report that the friendly staff and approachable partners make them feel at home. There are some complaints that the firm can be a bit 'London focused' (despite having offices in Birmingham, Maidstone, Cambridge, Manchester, Chelmsford, Sheffield and Taunton) and the level of responsibility and type of work can 'vary between departments'. You will also have to use your initiative and prove yourself in order to get involved in some of the bigger cases. However, you can then expect to have experiences ranging from 'attending a mediation at the IDRC' or 'preparing for a hearing at the County Court'. Perfect if you are interested in working in a firm with a strong focus on litigation where you will be expected to use your initiative but also have the time to go out and socialise with your friendly colleagues.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Sophie Derbyshire, second-year trainee solicitor, Kennedys (London office) 
Departments to date:  Corporate banking, insurance/reinsurance
University: Leeds 
Degree: Law, 2(1) 

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9.30am: I arrive at the office, accompanied by a Starbucks coffee. The first thing I do is check my email and voicemail to see if anything urgent has come up. I like to use a daily to-do list and my Outlook calendar to organise my day. Our clients place a lot of importance on the timely management of cases. Kennedys has a really helpful online case management system, which provides me with notices of upcoming deadlines, so this is always my first port of call.

9.45am: I receive a call from an Insurer client on one of the files I manage. I provide a brief outline of the progress I have made so far in the claim. I then pop over to my supervisor to talk through the issues as I see them. We review the options, focusing on the key points to consider in relation to the optimum recovery. My view is valued and I am encouraged to show initiative in regards to how a case should be taken forward. This seemed daunting at the start but the open door policy (and the open-plan office) ensures that there is always somebody around to ask for help. We agree that I should get started on drafting a letter of claim in order that we can issue proceedings.

10.30am: One of the lawyers in my team asks me to do some urgent research. After explaining the relevant issues in detail to me, I am told to draft it in the form of advice that will go out to one of our clients.

12.05pm: One of the partners stops to discuss a set of instructions I drafted for him yesterday. Feedback is regularly given as the teams are very supportive and are keen to equip us to be well rounded lawyers upon qualification. He explains the amendments which I promptly make.

1.30pm: I meet up with a couple of the trainees for lunch and discuss our upcoming trip to Paris. Fourteen of us are cycling all the way from London for our firm charities, so there is a great deal to plan.

2.15pm: I have been asked to assist with the interview of a potential witness at our offices. The witness is an underwriter who will be explaining how he would have written an insurance policy had he been aware of certain material facts which we believe the insured withheld. As the trainee, my role is to greet the witness at reception and take a detailed note of the meeting. I have been quite involved with this matter throughout my seat so I am reasonably familiar with the content of the interview. Once I get back to my desk I quickly dictate my note of the interview on our electronic dictation systems and return to my research.

4.00pm: The lawyer who I am doing the research for comes to find me and we discuss my findings so far. He suggests the most relevant points I should focus on. I block out a couple of hours in my diary as this will take some time.

6.45pm: I close down the case management system, update my calendar and organise myself for the following day.

7.00pm: I head up to monthly themed staff drinks held outside on our sunny balcony - this month we have a Spanish theme. It's a good opportunity to catch up with the other trainees and meet a number of people I wouldn't otherwise (and of course to enjoy a free glass of wine and Spanish food!)

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 25 Fenchurch Avenue,, London EC3M 5AD

Telephone: 020 7667 9667

Fax: 020 7667 9777

Website: www.kennedys-law.com

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Senior partner: Nick Thomas

Managing partner: Guy Stobart

 

Other offices: Auckland, Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Miami, Maidstone, Manchester, Singapore, Sheffield, Sydney, Taunton. 

Who we are:  Kennedys is a specialist national and international legal firm with unrivalled expertise in litigation and dispute resolution. Kennedys is a top-30 law firm and won 'Law Firm of the Year' and 'Insurance Team of the Year' at the 2010 Legal Business Awards. Kennedys is regarded as a leader, not just because it has some of the most respected legal minds in its fields but because they know the importance of being practical, commercial and approachable.

What we do: Kennedys' lawyers provide a range of specialist legal services for many industries including: insurance/reinsurance, healthcare, construction, local government, rail sectors, maritime and international trade with a particular focus on dispute resolution and litigation.

What we are looking for: The firm is looking for graduates who are articulate, self-aware and resourceful. Kennedys' trainees experience early responsibility and client contact, therefore it is essential to have a mature and confident approach. Trainees with the firm must have commercial awareness and a strong appreciation of the interests of the client. As Kennedys has a vibrant and supportive working environment it is also looking for sociable, energetic team players, with a wide range of interests outside their studies.

What you'll do:  The purpose of the training contract is to give trainees a mix of experience and skills that will set you up as a solicitor with Kennedys. You are given a good level of responsibility early on, dealing with varied areas of work. You will be a valued member of the team from the start, working alongside solicitors and partners in a relaxed environment.

Perks: Permanent health insurance, pension, private medical insurance, life insurance, 25 days' holiday increasing to 27 days after five years, interest-free season ticket loan, gym membership, cycle to work scheme, child care assistance scheme employee assistance scheme, corporate GP, contribution towards conveyancing fees and eye care vouchers.

Sponsorship: 

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 20

Applications received pa: 900 

Percentage interviewed: 10% 

Salary

First year: £34,000 (London 2010)

Second year: £37,000 (London 2010)

Newly qualified: £58,000 (London 2010)

 The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £88.3m (+15% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £414,000 (+42%)

Total partners: 160

Other fee-earners: 408

Total trainees: 35

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: www.kennedys-law.com

How: Online application 

When to Apply: 1 October 2011-31 July 2012 for 2013 and 2014 training contracts. Applications for 2014 training contracts will reopen on 1 October 2012. 1 October 2011-31 January 2012 for summer vacation schemes. 

What is involved: Application, assessment day, interview.