Following significant client interest, Kennedys say they have taken their virtual lawyer platform, KLAiM, to Latin America.

No lawyer needed

The move coincides with the firm setting up a research and development (R&D) function in Mexico City to serve their Latin American, Caribbean and US clients. KLAiM is an online legal process platform designed to help clients use lawyers less. It is part of a suite of innovative online products that are anchored to our core principle of helping clients only use a lawyer when they really need one. Using the collective knowhow of hundreds of the firm’s lawyers, KLAiM allows clients to deal with litigation and other legal processes without needing to use a lawyer. Clients are settling in excess of 80 percent of their claims inside the system without the need for a lawyer at all. Projected savings in indemnity spend and legal fees, for UK clients using KLAiM, over the next 12 months is £5 million ($6.4m). The new R&D function is supporting the roll-out of KLAiM and the development of other online products in Latin America. It is being spearheaded by innovation manager, and commercial lawyer, Tom Gummer who has moved from his post in London to the firm’s Mexico City office.

Transforming insurance

While still reporting into head of research and development, Karim Derrick, Mr Gummer is working closely with Alex Guillamont, head of our Latin America and Caribbean practice, to advance the R&D function in the region. He is one of the founders of our Ideas Lab, the platform through which any member of the firm can come forward with innovative ideas about how to create future products. Mr Gummer says: “I’ve seen first-hand the way in which our innovations can be tailored to transform the claims process for insurers across the globe. I am excited to be able to bring our award-winning innovations into the vibrant Latin American market, which is already showing a strong level of interest among our client base.” Earlier this year, the firm extended its footprint to eleven territories in Latin America and the Caribbean by establishing a presence in each of the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Panama through three new Associations.