Kennedys > Dublin, Ireland > Firm Profile

Kennedys Offices

Kennedys
BLOODSTONE BUILDING
SIR JOHN ROGERSON'S QUAY
DUBLIN 2
DQ2 KF24
Ireland
Visit website 353 1 878 0055 353 1 878 0056

Kennedys > The Legal 500 Rankings

Ireland > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Kennedys has a significant presence in healthcare litigation, especially medical negligence cases. It represents a variety of medical service providers, medical product manufacturers, healthcare professionals and their insurers. It has remained active in CervicalCheck misdiagnosis claims. Joanne O’Sullivan leads the team and played a pivotal role in the firm’s appointment to the State Claims Agency’s legal panel in January 2023. Legal director Shanna Dunne is noted for clinical negligence and product liability cases.

Practice head(s):

Joanne O’Sullivan

Other key lawyers:

Shanna Dunne; Olan Kelleher

Testimonials

‘Responsiveness, quality of advice, thorough and prompt attention.’

‘Joanne O’Sullivan (Standout Partner), Shanna Dunne (Standout Associate).’

‘Kennedys Dublin, headed up by Joanne O’Sullivan, are extremely knowledgeable in the healthcare field and go above and beyond for their clients. They are very friendly and engaging, and nothing is too much trouble. They are very commercially minded.’

‘Shanna Dunne and Joanne O’Sullivan are very friendly and approachable and are robust negotiators. They obtain excellent results for their clients.’

‘The team’s overall performance singles them out really. They work to deadlines effectively, provide well-structured and informative reports, and the solicitors are intelligent and approachable. They clearly have an excellent work culture.’

‘Joanne O’Sullivan – Probably the best healthcare defendant solicitor in Ireland. Joanne’s work ethic is second to none, her knowledge of the subject is deep and yet she combines this with an easy-going relaxed character that puts you at ease. The latter quality is essential when you have doctors going through a very stressful period in their life.’

‘Olan Kelleher – Olan presents with a similar relaxed attitude to Joanne without showing any signs of complacency. He’s thorough, has an eye for detail, has an excellent work ethic. Joanne and Olan are the two who I work with most. There are others in the team who undoubtedly deserve praise that I haven’t singled out. I’ve not had a bad experience with the Kennedys team in Ireland.’

Key clients

Challenge Indemnity

CPL Healthcare Limited

DCM Optical Express

DePuy International Limited

Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited

Johnson & Johnson

Medlab Pathology Limited

Oculentis GmbH

Sims IVF (Advanced Fertility Care)

Sonic Healthcare (Ireland) Limited

State Claims Agency

Work highlights

  • Instructed as lead counsel in CervicalCheck (cancer misdiagnosis) cases in Ireland for the past several years.
  • Appointed to the State Claims Agency panel in January 2023.

Ireland > Insurance Tier 2

Kennedys is a global giant in the insurance sector, with the Dublin team playing an increasingly pivotal role in upholding the firm’s reputation. The group is frequently engaged in many of the biggest cases in the market, including the headline claims by aircraft lessors arising from the Russia-Ukraine war. It has demonstrated its expertise in a range of key areas, from business interruption, construction and political risks to personal injury, clinical negligence, professional indemnity, and transport and logistics. The large team boasts experienced partners, including Andrew McGahey, a prominent name in financial lines, D&O, political risk and business interruption. Joanne O’Sullivan specialises in catastrophic injuries, Noel Devins is rated for professional indemnity claims in the construction industry and business interruption cases, and Hugh Kennedy is a leader in shipping insurance. David Strahan is also highly rated. Catherine Lyons was promoted to partner in May 2023.

Practice head(s):

Andrew McGahey

Other key lawyers:

Noel Devins; Joanne O’Sullivan; Hugh Kennedy; David Strahan; Catherine Lyons

Testimonials

‘Strong, in-depth team with knowledge, professionalism, pragmatists, reachable and personable. ’

‘David Strahan’s professionalism, knowledge, accessibility and pragmatism are key strengths that we very much appreciate. He adopts a pragmatic approach and is outcome oriented whilst understanding our objectives in respect of each individual case as we look to achieve the optimum result from a cost and reputation perspective. It is reassuring and comforting that we can pick up a phone and speak with David or any of his colleagues regarding any aspect of our cases.’

‘We value the service provided by David and Kennedys, which we believe is first-in-class. David has a strong understanding of our business and our values which is critically important when trying to settle litigation cases. David delivers a first-in-class service, ensuring we are receiving a value add service proposition from Kennedys, which is attributable to David’s service delivery. Not aware of any obvious weaknesses that we would highlight during our time working with David and rest of the team.’

‘Prompt and practical legal advice.’

‘The team at Kennedy’s never fails to provide excellent advice and effective strategies for the cost effective management of claims.’

‘Hugh Kennedy is a specialist in maritime claims and law which is not a common specialty in Ireland. He is therefore invaluable and heads up an active and responsive team.’

‘Kennedys Ireland are a strong united firm to work with. They present considered informed legal recommendations putting every effort into seeking the best outcome for clients.’

Key clients

Aegis

AF Beazley

AIG

Allianz

Atrium Underwriting Limited

Aviva Life & Pensions dac

Berkshire Hathaway

Challenge Medical Indemnity

Chaucer Insurance

Chubb

COSCO & China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association

Drogheda Port

IN2 Engineering Design Partnership

Inditex Re

JD Sports

JD Wetherspoon

Liberty Insurance

Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA

MSD (Merck & CO)

RSA

Securitas Security Services Limited

SIMS Clinic

State Claims Agency

Talbot underwriting Limited

Zurich Insurance PLC

Work highlights

  • Acted for Lloyds Insurance Company and Lloyd’s of London syndicates in over $4.5bn worth of war risks and all risks claims by aircraft lessors arising from the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Represented insurers of Perrigo in connection with Perrigo’s attempts to claim $500m in insurance in relation to securities fraud litigation.
  • Represented COSCO & China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association following a collision between a COSCO vessel and a large French fishing vessel off the coast of Ireland.

Ireland > Transport Tier 2

Kennedys has a strong reputation as ‘simply the premier shipping firm in Ireland‘ and is highly skilled in litigation relating to personal injury, collisions, cargo, salvage and damages, with an emphasis on acting for major insurers. The team’s offering in the transport sector also extends to high-profile aviation and road-related disputes. The ‘incredibly responsive‘ Hugh Kennedy, who is renowned for his expertise in the maritime sector, leads the team. Andrew McGahey and Catherine Lyons are the key contacts for contentious aviation matters, including crew, cargo and passenger claims.

Practice head(s):

Hugh Kennedy

Other key lawyers:

Andrew McGahey; Catherine Lyons; Steven Colgan

Testimonials

‘Full-service provider for transportation law – they know it all!’

‘They provide excellent advice that is tailored to meet the exact needs of the transportation and shipping industry.’

‘Hugh Kennedy was incredibly responsive and available whenever we needed him.’

‘Hugh Kennedy is one of the best maritime lawyers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He’s quick to reply, commercial and very cost effective.’

‘Simply the premier shipping firm in Ireland.’

‘Hugh Kennedy is personable, quick and good value. His advice is succinct, clear and well-informed. A delight to work with.’

Key clients

Amlin

British Marine P&I

Brittany Ferries

C H Robinson

CLDN

Etihad Airways

Gard P&I

Irish Ferries

Irish International Freight Association

Northern Marine Underwriters

P&O Ferries

Samskip

Skuld P&I Club

Standard P&I Club

TUI Travel PLC

WE Cox

World Fuel Services

Work highlights

  • Instructed by insurers to defend ship-owner COSCO Shipping Captive Insurance Co. following a collision between a COSCO vessel and a French fishing vessel off the coast of Ireland.
  • Instructed by Shipowners P&I Club to defend a ferry company which has been erroneously accused of causing a personal injury aboard one of its vessels.

Ireland > Dispute resolution Tier 3

NO SUBMISSION

Work highlights

Kennedys > Firm Profile

Kennedys is a specialist national and international law firm with expertise in litigation and dispute resolution. It has over 2,000 people globally, across the UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, the America’s and the Middle East.

Kennedys has 37 offices in 22 countries globally, including ten locations in the UK. It also benefits from a network of 21 association and co-operation offices in a further 12 countries.

Kennedys’ Dublin office combines legal and regulatory expertise with practical business advice for both domestic and international clients. Our specialist legal services span the insurance and reinsurance, healthcare, personal injury and commercial dispute sectors.

Kennedys’ Dublin office has one of largest dedicated insurance practices in Ireland. We provide expert coverage and claims defence services to both international and domestic insurers and their insureds. In particular, we advise on professional liability, financial institutions’ liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, public and employers’ liability, transactional liability and trade credit claims. We also specialise in advising on property damage and environmental liability claims.

Our healthcare team members are specialists in managing contentious and non-contentious healthcare legal issues, including medical malpractice litigation, inquests, health law advice and medical and dental council complaints.

Our large liability team specialises in providing strategic advice on underwriting, coverage and management of claims through the litigation process with particular expertise in motor, travel, fraud, product liability, catastrophic injury and property subrogation.

We are leading experts in the marine, aviation and transport sectors, advising on all aspects of transport-related claims.

Our dispute resolution team provides expert legal advice on a broad range of commercial disputes, including corporate and contractual disputes, professional negligence, property disputes, fraud, defamation and public procurement.

Kennedys’ global knowledge of the insurance sector and depth of expertise across multiple claims specialisms in both Ireland and the UK means that Kennedys’ Dublin office is also ideally placed to advise and help navigate our clients, both national and international, through the uncertainties of the UK’s secession from the European Union. Our Dublin office will continue to be a key link for our clients seeking representation in the broader EU market.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Aviation sector Hugh Kennedy
Catastrophic injury Martina O'Mahoney
Catastrophic injury David Strahan
Catastrophic injury Graham Duggan
Catastrophic injury Joanne O'Sullivan
Commercial disputes Andrew McGahey
Commercial disputes David Strahan
Construction and engineering sector Noel Devins
Directors and officers liability Andrew McGahey
Employers' liability Martina O'Mahoney
Employers' liability David Strahan
Employers' liability Joanne O'Sullivan
Financial institutions Andrew McGahey
Marine insurance Hugh Kennedy
Medical malpractice Joanne O'Sullivan
Motor liability Cian McGrath
Product liability, recall and mass tort Joanne O'Sullivan
Professional liability Noel Devins
Property damage Noel Devins
Property damage David Strahan
Public liability Martina O'Mahoney
Public liability Joanne O'Sullivan
Public Liability David Strahan
Regulatory defence Joanne O'Sullivan
Reinsurance Andrew McGahey
Insurance and reinsurance sector Andrew McGahey
Healthcare sector Joanne O'Sullivan
Healthcare sector Shanna Dunne
Life sciences sector Joanne O'Sullivan
Life sciences sector Shanna Dunne
Shipping and international trade sector Hugh Kennedy
Transport and logistics sector Hugh Kennedy

Staff Figures

Number of fee-earners : 1,400
at this office : 37

Languages

English
French
Polish
German

Other

Contact : Andrew McGahey
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Auckland
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Austin
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Bangkok
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Basking Ridge
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Beijing*
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Belfast
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Bologna*
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Cambridge
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Chelmsford
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Chicago
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Dubai
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Edinburgh
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : La Vega*
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Lisbon
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : London
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Panama City*
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Paris
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Rio de Janeiro*
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : San Juan*
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Santiago
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : São Paulo
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : São Paulo*
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Shanghai*
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Sheffield
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Shenzhen*
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Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Sydney
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Taunton
Other offices / * associated offices and co-operations : Warsaw*

Diversity/Community


As a growing global law firm, attracting and retaining talent from a variety of different backgrounds has allowed us to develop a distinct culture that we are proud of.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity at Kennedys. Our principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity apply not only to our employees, but also to the way we treat our visitors, clients, customers and suppliers.

Demonstrating our commitment, we were proud to be the global gold-level partners of the Dive In festival for the first time in 2018. Dive In is a multi-award winning festival for diversity and inclusion in insurance run by Inclusion@LloydÂ’s, a cross market collaboration of C-suite executives and industry associations driving the strategic push for greater diversity in the LloydÂ’s market.

Our equality and diversity policy

We support our workplace and clients by following our equality and diversity policy. Our policy covers:

  • Discrimination
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Training and promotion
  • Termination of employment
  • Treating outside parties
  • Monitoring
  • Disabled employees.

 

Everyone at Kennedys has a duty to act in accordance with our equality and diversity policy. They must treat others with dignity at all times, and not discriminate against or harass job applicants or other employees regardless of their status.

Discrimination

Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Recruitment and selection

Job applicants do not suffer discrimination, job selection criteria are regularly reviewed to ensure they are relevant to the job, and short listing of applicants is completed by more than one person.

Training and promotion

Training needs are identified through regular reviews. All promotion decisions will be made on the basis of merit.

Termination of employment

Any disciplinary procedures and penalties are applied without discrimination and redundancy criterion and procedures are fair and objective.

Treating outside parties

Kennedys is free to accept instruction from any particular client and refusal to act will not be based on any protected characteristics. Lawyers will be instructed based on their skills, experience and ability.

Monitoring

Workforce composition is monitored at all levels to ensure equality of opportunity across the firm. Where appropriate, steps will be taken to identify and remove unjustified barriers.

Disabled employees

Those with a disability will be treated fairly and reasonable adjustments to the workplace, or job content, will be made to ensure that an employee with a disability is not disadvantaged.