Kennedys merger heralds Manchester launch

Kennedys launched in Manchester on Friday (1 February) after raiding local rival Halliwells for a team of three and merging with Kershaw Abbott Solicitors.

The firm will be based in Kershaw Abbott's existing offices, where Kennedys' two partners, Anne Kershaw and Christopher Abbott, will be joined by Paul McGrath, Mark Dickson and Scott Nightingale from Halliwells.

Kennedys chief executive Ric Martin said: "There was a view among our liability partners that we needed a presence in the North.

"Much of the insurance liability work we do is regionally driven, and you'll have more credibility if you're based locally."

The move comes as Kennedys is appointed to insurer Esure's legal panel. Esure said it would instruct Kennedys on any work that its main adviser, Irwin Mitchell, was conflicted on. The Manchester office will handle Esure's work for the North.

Martin said the firm intends to kick-start an assistant recruitment campaign, with plans to have 20 staff in the office within six months.

He added. "It's not in our game plan to be a national practice - we're spread wherever our clients want us to go."

The Manchester office will specialise in professional negligence and insurance work.