Kennedys has boosted its US litigation bench with the hire of a 12-lawyer trial team from national US firm Tyson & Mendes.
The team, which has successfully tried more than 200 cases to verdict, is led by partners Randy Faust and Kristina Milone and includes partners John Anselmo and Bryan Ferrara. They have joined Kennedys in New York alongside two special counsel and six associates.
The firm said the team's hire aligned with its aim to strengthen its position as a leading insurance and disputes firm in the US.
“The team’s national reputation as an elite, high-stakes litigation unit that can ‘parachute’ into complex cases immediately before trial and take them through verdict will be an asset to our practice, especially as claim payouts have skyrocketed and risk escalates," said Eric Hiller, Kennedys' US managing partner. "Together, we will offer clients greater depth, broader resources and a stronger trial platform nationally.”
The group brings decades of collective trial experience defending corporations in high-exposure litigation, including global hotel and resort brands, a multinational consumer goods company and national retailers across the US. Its members have successfully defended matters involving wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents and other significant exposure claims.
Faust, who was the Northeast regional managing partner at Tyson & Mendes, has served as national coordinating defence counsel on cases involving Hilton Hotels and MetLife Stadium, among others. He also regularly represents major product manufacturers in product liability matters, including Procter & Gamble, Capital Brands and Sears Roebuck and Co.
Faust was a founding partner of a New York firm focused on insurance and civil defence before joining Tyson & Mendes. He also served as an assistant district attorney at the New York County District Attorney’s Office for Robert Morgenthau, where he was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the largest property damage insurance fraud case ever brought in the US, which led to the arrests and prosecution of more than 100 professionals.
Meanwhile, Milone, who was the New York branch office managing partner at her former firm, has experience leading all phases of insurance defence, civil and government litigation. She has defended governmental clients against claims for employment discrimination, as well as general liability and construction and labour law cases for building owners and contractors involving personal injury and property damages claims. Her civil defence practice also includes experience with wrongful death claims, product liability and premises liability lawsuits.
The team join Kennedys at a time of expansion for the firm across the US, where, since 2017, it has grown from one office to 12, housing more than 100 partners and 300 attorneys. The firm cited strong US growth as a driver of its 9% revenue rise in FY26 to a record high of £457m.
Kennedys also boosted its London disputes bench this week with the hire of aviation insurance partner Rob Ireland from Clyde & Co.
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