Erik Penz > Kennedys > Hamilton, Bermuda > Lawyer Profile
Kennedys Offices
1 Church Street, Third Floor
Hamilton HM 11
Bermuda
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Erik Penz
Position
Erik Penz is Special Counsel practising commercial disputes in Bermuda.
Career
Erik maintains a broad advocacy and advisory practice in complex contentious matters, including in the insurance, construction and professional-services sectors. His practice areas include shareholder disputes, injunctions, winding-up petitions, policy claims and coverage disputes, international judicial assistance, and recognition of foreign insolvency proceedings and practitioners.
He has appeared as leading counsel before the Court of Appeal, Divisional Court, Superior Court and regulatory panels in Canada, before international and domestic arbitral tribunals, and in mediations in London and Canada.
Erik was a partner at Norton Rose in Canada for 9½ years and then practised international disputes in the Middle East for 4 years where he was ranked Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 in 2021 and recognised as a leading practitioner in The Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist in 2022.
He was counsel on leading insolvency, contract and private-international cases in Canada, and acted in high-profile litigation and international arbitration proceedings in the Middle East including two successful appeals to the Supreme Court of the Sultanate of Oman.
Erik’s practice covers all forms of dispute resolution, including insolvency and regulatory proceedings, and he has extensive experience with strategic / tactical litigation and multi-jurisdictional proceedings. Erik is a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation (including through the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in London), pre-trial settlement conferences, and negotiation.
Memberships
Erik is called to the Bar of Bermuda and by the Benchers of Upper Canada. He is a member of the Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association of Bermuda.
Education
BA (First-class Honours) in History and Politics, University of King’s College, Nova Scotia
LL B, with focus on advocacy, commercial law and public law, Queen’s University, Ontario
Lawyer Rankings
Bermuda > Insurance/reinsurance
The team at Kennedys adeptly manages a comprehensive spectrum of both contentious and non-contentious matters, representing insurers, reinsurers, captive insurance companies and their insured clients. Mark Chudleigh co-leads the practice alongside Nick Miles, who is recognised as a ‘stellar regulatory lawyer‘ whose expertise spans public company mergers and economic substance regulations. Laura Williamson adds further depth to the team with her proficiency in handling professional liability claims, director’s liability matters, complex insurance arbitrations, and multi-jurisdictional cases. Other notable contacts within the firm also encompass special counsel Erik Penz, who acts in contentious insurance matters; senior associate Nicolas Champ, who is a specialist in corporate insurance; and associates David Thom and Alexandra Miller.
Bermuda > Dispute resolution
Recognised for its ‘international footprint and robust local insurance practice’, the Kennedys team adeptly manages a wide spectrum of high-stakes, complex disputes spanning contractual, insurance, finance, investment fund, shareholder, and multi-jurisdictional insolvency claims. Leading the practice is Mark Chudleigh, who is renowned for his work in international arbitration and high-value insurance claims, with support from Nick Miles, who is an expert in insolvency and restructuring affairs. The team’s ‘future star’, newly promoted partner Laura Williamson, further bolsters its strength, leveraging her expertise in insurance arbitration and professional liability cases. The team is also fortified by associates David Thom and Alexandra Miller, as well as special counsel Erik Penz; all have extensive experience in managing complex contentious matters, particularly within the insurance, construction and professional services sectors.