Kennedys is joined by former associate firm Sateler Depolo Diemoz Abogados in Chile, with the office headed by partners Ricardo Sateler, Radoslav Depolo and Mario Diemoz. The 13-strong team specialises in litigation and arbitration, with a particular focus on insurance claims and coverage advice.

Partner hires

The new Colombian office in Bogotá is led by partners Mónica Tocarruncho Mantilla and Andrea Londoño Agudelo, and will focus on claims, coverage and corporate law for the insurance industry.

Ms Tocarruncho Mantilla joins the firm from RSA Colombia, where she was general counsel. During her time at the insurance giant she worked on the sale of RSA Latin America’s operations to Suramericana, which was the largest insurance deal in the region last year.

Ms Londoño Agudelo joins Kennedys from DLA Piper Martínez Neira, where she was head of the firm’s Colombian insurance practice. Before working at DLA, she worked at insurance broker Aon in London.

Complementing the Miami hub

Kennedys’ senior partner Nick Thomas commented: ‘These latest office openings further reinforce our strategy to establish a presence in key Latin American jurisdictions. They complement our well-stablished Latin America hub in Miami by providing on-the-ground expertise.

‘Our growth is, as ever, driven by client need and market opportunities, and by developing both our local and international capabilities, Kennedys is improving the service it provides to local insurers and London Market insurers too.’

LatAm expansion

Kennedys has pushed for rapid expansion in Latin America this year and now has offices in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru and formal associations in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The firm has also gained the ability to practice law in the US after hiring two US lawyers in its Miami office at the beginning of the year.