Kennedys has absorbed specialist dispute resolution firm Darroch Forrest to open an office in Wellington, New Zealand, as it continues to expand in Australasia. 

The office is the firm's second in New Zealand after the Auckland base the firm opened back in 2000. As part of the move, partners Alistair Darroch, Lauren Castle and Ben Sanders joined Kennedys on 1 October along with their team of seven lawyers and two support professionals. Their arrival takes the firm's total number of staff in New Zealand to more than 25.

“We have known and worked alongside the Darroch Forrest team for some time," said Kim Burkhart, partner for Kennedys in New Zealand. "Their experience and strong understanding of the local market make them the perfect fit to help Kennedys provide a truly national service through a second office in Wellington."

The new team advises clients across insurance, commercial litigation, employment, health and safety, construction and health/medical law, which Kennedys said is closely aligned with its structure and insurance focus in Australasia. 

The team is expected to work closely with Burkhart and fellow Auckland-based Kennedys partner Jess Keating to provide wider national support to clients to resolve disputes, manage claims and navigate emerging risks and opportunities in New Zealand and the wider region, the firm said. 

Kennedys’ APAC managing partner, Matt Andrews, said growing the firm's New Zealand footprint helped it realise its aim to be a leading legal and risk advisory specialist for clients in the regions it serves. 

"I'm delighted to welcome Alistair, Lauren, Ben and their team to Kennedys," he added. 

The Wellington team brings the total number of Kennedys partners to 29 across New Zealand and Australia. The firm has been expanding in the region in recent years, opening offices in Perth and Brisbane and hiring a 12-strong insurance group in Sydney late last year from Clyde & Co. Earlier this year the firm also hit Clydes for a 12-lawyer team for its Melbourne office. 

The firm, which grew revenue 17% in the last financial year to £384m, has also been expanding at a clip in the US, having opened seven offices across the country since 2020, including in Fort Lauderdale, Seattle and Los Angeles so far this year.