Global law firm Kennedys has strengthened its commercial litigation practice with a four-strong team from Barrios & Fuentes Abogados. The quartet is headed by Tabata Arteta, who joined as a partner. Associates Pablo Espinoza, Micaela Aleman and Kristian Cifelli moved with her. The focus on complex corporate, civil and commercial disputes, including recoveries, will bolster the Lima office’s insurance, reinsurance and regulatory practice.

Financial focus

Arteta is a finance specialist and focuses on the banking, energy, insurance and healthcare sectors. She has acted for a number of large corporate and commercial organisations and is an arbitrator at the Center of Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce of Lima and at the International Center of Arbitration of the Peruvian - American Chamber of Commerce.

Regional growth

Kennedys opened its Peru office in 2016, alongside its three other outposts in the region, in Brazil, Chile and Colombia. Lead by Marco Rivera Noya, the office comprises two partners and ten lawyers and complements existing offices within Latin America and the Caribbean in Argentina, Bermuda, Mexico and the regional Miami hub, which opened in 2010.

Global expansion

The addition is the latest in a line of global expansion, following office openings last year in Argentina, Bangkok, Bermuda, Melbourne, Mexico City and Paris, and its merger with US insurance firm Carroll McNulty & Kull. Earlier this month, Kennedys announced it had boosted its healthcare and employment practices in Australia with a nine-strong team from TressCox to its Melbourne office.