Firm expands in Dublin with healthcare partner hire
Kennedys has hired healthcare specialist, Joanne O’Sullivan, as a partner in its Dublin office. Joanne joins the firm from the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, where she was deputy head of legal services.
In addition to her NHS work, Joanne also has extensive experience working for the world’s largest healthcare insurers in inquests, personal injury claims, regulatory cases and clinical negligence claims, including complex brain injury cases. She trained and qualified at Matheson in Dublin in 2008 and is qualified to practice in Ireland and England & Wales. Joanne has previously worked with DWF Fishburns and Clyde & Co in London.
The appointment strengthens Kennedys’ 70-strong team of specialist healthcare lawyers and reinforces their growth ambitions in Dublin, giving the firm the opportunity to expand its international specialist healthcare practice with teams also in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, and shortly in USA. Ireland is currently seeking to introduce similar clinical negligence protocols to those introduced by the Woolf reforms in the UK, following the release of a 2015 government report into the rising cost of medical indemnity insurance.
Joanne says: 'I am delighted to be relocating back to Dublin with a firm of Kennedys’ reputation and growth ambitions. I am looking forward to growing Kennedys’ healthcare capabilities in Ireland. It’s a particularly important time for Irish insurers in relation to how they handle clinical negligence claims and this will be a key focus of my service to them.'
Nick Thomas, senior partner of Kennedys, says: 'Joanne brings highly relevant experience to our growing Dublin office, reinforcing our commitment to attracting leading lawyers whenever, and wherever, clients need expertise. Joanne’s appointment complements recent investment to build our UK healthcare practice across both the private and public sector, including a number of healthcare commercial hires who advise on a broad range of commercial activities, establishing new bodies, regulation, governance and procurement.'
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