Kennedys has hired three partners and four solicitors to its Singapore and Hong Kong offices in a bid to strengthen its global aviation capabilities.
The seven-lawyer aviation team includes partners Peng Lim - who now heads Kennedys’ aviation team globally - and Anita Quy, who join the Singapore office along with four other lawyers from Clyde & Co. Sarah Catchpole – the third partner hire – joins from Norton White in Sydney and will be based in Hong Kong.
Nick Thomas, senior partner at Kennedys said: "The arrival of the new aviation team, headed by Peng, significantly strengthens our global aviation capability, bringing expertise in the Asia Pacific market, as well as multi-jurisdictional experience covering Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Peng, Anita and Sarah all have experience advising on high profile aviation matters including major catastrophes and large scale litigation. Bringing them on board is an important step in the continued expansion of our international aviation and insurance businesses.”
Lim has over 20 years’ experience in the field and has handled many of the Asia-Pacific region’s aircraft catastrophe losses. Quy advises aviation clients including insurers, airlines, regulators, general aviation operators, ground handlers and maintenance organisations. Sarah - who has previously lived and worked in Singapore, London and Rio de Janeiro - has directed crisis management in the aftermath of major aviation accidents.
This string of hires reinforces Kennedys’ position as one of the world’s leading aviation firms after its June 2013 merger with aviation and aerospace specialist, Gates and Partners. The latest move is Kennedys' response to losing its Singapore aviation team to rivals Clyde & Co earlier this year.