Kennedys

Kennedys has completed its merger with leading US insurance firm Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK), creating a global insurance practice that will offer clients unrivalled coverage and expertise in all their key markets.

The merger brings together around 100 lawyers, including 41 partners, from CMK and over 975 lawyers from Kennedys, with additional joint staff numbering 750, creating a firm with an enhanced presence across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. In the US only, the merged firm retains the CMK name in recognition of its outstanding reputation there, and is known as Kennedys CMK.

Chris Carroll, one of the founders of CMK in 1997, joins Kennedys’ global strategy board with immediate effect. Founding partners Joseph McNulty and Gary Kull will also continue with Kennedys CMK, along with managing partner Margaret Catalano and all other pre-merger lawyers and staff in all offices.

Nick Thomas, senior partner of Kennedys, says: ‘I’m thrilled to complete our merger with CMK, an exceptional firm with an outstanding reputation in the US that shares the same insurance focus as we do. Since announcing our merger plans we have been inundated with positive message from clients wishing us well, which has been particularly pleasing given that all of our growth has been based on client need and support. The global nature of the insurance market means that our clients will benefit from the expertise CMK can offer in the US. Likewise, CMK’s clients will benefit greatly from access to our network of specialists, stretching from Dublin to Auckland, and many points in between.’

Chris Carroll says: ‘Today brings together two very like-minded businesses and marks the start of a truly global insurance law firm. Having established CMK as one of the leading players in the US insurance market, we are excited to work within a strong global infrastructure that provides clients with greater access to services across the world.’