Kennedys is a go-to firm for ‘the most complex and high-value civil litigation’. Its offering encompasses representation in commercial and corporate litigation, trusts and shareholder disputes, and (re)insurance and contentious restricting mandates. ’Amazing litigator’ Mark Chudleigh heads up the practice with a ‘tremendous amount of arbitration experience’, as well as expertise in contentious insurance claims. Other key members of the group include insolvency specialist Nick Miles, who is praised as a ’go-to regulatory counsel in Bermuda’, ‘standout senior associate’ David Thom, who is an insurance specialist, and the ’highly talented’ Laura Williamson, who is skilled in disputes surrounding trusts and financial services. Special counsel Erik Penz is also notable for his expertise in international dispute resolution.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This is a full service Bermuda law firm that handles the most complex and high-value civil litigation, and it also has an equally impressive insurance and reinsurance practice. It also provides fantastic regulatory counsel, all at reasonable rates. They have great attorneys who are passionate about their work, bring good energy and care about their clients.’
‘Mark Chudleigh is the leader of the firm and an amazing litigator. He presented compellingly at a reinsurance conference this year analyzing the differences between US and UK/Bermuda arbitration procedurally. He has a tremendous amount of arbitration experience, both as an advocate and as an arbitrator, and is frequently before the Bermuda courts.'
'Nick Miles is brilliant and my go-to regulatory counsel in Bermuda. He provides practical advice, always with a smile.’
‘David Thom is a standout senior associate. He is legally sharp, has great attention to detail, and always keeps a great sense of humour even under immense pressure.'
'I have been working with the Kennedy's team in Bermuda for about three years now. Mark Chudleigh heads up an incredibly talented and effective litigation team alongside Laura Williamson, David Thom and Vinesh Mistry.'
'Their strengths are their depth and experience in merger appraisal work. They really have no one else in Bermuda has the experience that they do. Mark Chudleigh stands out as an incredibly level headed and experienced Bermuda practitioner. He has a very strong tactical brain and he's able to navigate through tricky situations quickly and efficiently.'
'Laura Williamson is a highly talented and up and coming new partner at Kennedy's who I think will make a very strong team with Mark Chudleigh going forward.'
'David Thom is a highly talented senior associate and destined for great honours. He is incredibly hard working but also has a an ability well beyond his years to steer through difficult concepts and draft difficult documents. Vinesh Mistry has impressed me already with his analytical and writing abilities.'
Key clients
- Fullsun International Holdings Group Co. Ltd.
- Alpine Global Management LLC and associated Alpine entities
- Athos Asia Event Driven Master Fund and associated Athos entities
- Whitefort Capital Inc.
- Norges Bank
- Wakefield Securities LLC and associated Elliott entities
- FourWorld Event Opportunities LP and associated FourWorld entities
- Martin Lang, protector of the B Trust
Work highlights
- Representing the largest group of shareholders (approximately $1.65 billion by amalgamation consideration value) in the “Jardine appraisal action”, the first major (and practically unprecedented) merger appraisal action in Bermuda.
- Represented a class of approximately 1,000 investors in two Bermuda life insurance companies which were wound up by the Supreme Court of Bermuda in 2020 following the reallocation of their assets by their shareholder, US groups Global Bankers/Private Bankers.
- Defending Bermuda law firm, Wakefield Quin, in three separate professional negligence claims.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Mark Chudleigh