Kennedys Law names experienced healthcare lawyer as new Dublin partner

Kennedys Law has named experienced healthcare specialist Joanne O’Sullivan as a new partner in the firm’s Dublin office.

Ms O’Sullivan joins from the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, where she was deputy head of legal services.

Her appointment follows the international law firm’s announcement last November that it was doubling its Dublin office space in anticipation of insurance firms relocating to the Irish capital after Brexit.

Ms O’Sullivan has experience working for large healthcare insurers in inquests, personal injury claims, regulatory cases and clinical negligence claims, including complex brain injury cases.

She trained and qualified at Matheson in Dublin in 2008 and is qualified to practice in Ireland and England & Wales. She has previously worked with DWF Fishburns and Clyde & Co in London.

She said: “I am delighted to be relocating back to Dublin with a firm of Kennedys’ reputation and growth ambitions. I am looking forward to growing Kennedys’ healthcare capabilities in Ireland. It’s a particularly important time for Irish insurers in relation to how they handle clinical negligence claims and this will be a key focus of my service to them.”

Nick Thomas, senior partner at Kennedys, added: “Joanne brings highly relevant experience to our growing Dublin office, reinforcing our commitment to attracting leading lawyers whenever, and wherever, clients need expertise.

“Joanne’s appointment complements recent investment to build our UK healthcare practice across both the private and public sector, including a number of healthcare commercial hires who advise on a broad range of commercial activities, establishing new bodies, regulation, governance and procurement.”

Next month, Kennedys will complete its merger with US firm Carroll McNulty & Kull, creating what it has called “a truly global insurance practice”. The firm will subsequently be known as Kennedys CMK.