Kennedys has continued with its aggressive Latin America (LatAm) expansion, opening two more offices in Chile and Colombia, following the opening in July of its first greenfield sites on the continent in Brazil and Peru.
In Chile, Kennedy’s has merged with its former associate firm Sateler Depolo Diemoz Abogados, a 13-strong team headed up by partners Ricardo Sateler, Radoslav Depolo and Mario Diemoz based in Santiago. The office, which specialises in litigation and arbitration has a particular focus on insurance claims and coverage, and also provides e-commerce and consumer law, real estate and corporate finance advice.
The office in Columbia is another greenfield site, led by Royal and Sun Alliance’s general counsel in Columbia Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla (pictured) and DLA Piper Martínez Neira’s Andrea Londoño Agudelo, who headed up DLA’s Columbian insurance law practice. The office, which is also being launched with two associates, will focus on claims, coverage and corporate law for the insurance level.
Kennedys senior partner Nick Thomas said: ‘These latest office openings further reinforce our strategy to establish a presence in key Latin American jurisdictions. They complement our well established Latin America hub in Miami by providing on-the-ground expertise.’
‘Our growth is, as ever, driven by client need and market opportunities, and by developing both our local and international capabilities, Kennedys is improving the service it provides to local insurers and London market insurers too.’
In July, insurance specialist Kennedys opened its first greenfield sites on the continent with offices in São Paulo, Brazil and Lima, Peru.
The firm has a number of existing LatAm tie-ups, forming its fifth association in February in Argentina with local firm Alberto Bunge & Asociados (ABA).
The firm also has an association with Mexican firm Bufete Solís Marín, as well as Chilean insurance boutique Sateler Depolo Diemoz.
Last month Kennedys announced solid revenue growth of 7% for this financial year from £129.9m to £138.8m. In addition, the firm’s UK figure has topped £100m, with turnover at £102m from £99.6m.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk