Kennedys appoints first global managing partner

Kennedys has appointed Sheffield-born and based Suzanne Liversidge as its first global managing partner.

The new role has been created in recognition of the firm’s recent growth and Liversidge, who has become the first female global managing partner for a UK top-30 law firm, will work closely with senior partner Nick Thomas on the strategic and operational management of its global network of 37 offices.

Liversidge joined Kennedys as head of the Sheffield office in 2010. She qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1993 and built a practice that saw her working with insurers, self-insured corporates and local authorities, and specialising in employers’ liability, public and motor claims, as well as health and safety advice and prosecutions.

Born and bred in the city, Liversidge was named Sheffield Businesswoman of the Year for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008, before becoming the first female president of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce in its 242-year history in 2011.

She is also actively involved in the women in business regional network. As well as being an ambassador for Welcome to Yorkshire, Liversidge is vice chair of Sheffield United’s Community Foundation and a patron for charities Cavendish Cancer Care and Ashiana Sheffield.

She has also held several non-executive director roles in Sheffield’s theatres, galleries and museums, and spearheaded the inception of the Inspiring Women in Business group in Sheffield.

Liversidge is a member of the Kennedys global strategy board, as well as the R&D and innovations boards.

She also leads the firm’s Women in Insurance Network, is an active member of Link, the professional network for members of the LGBT+ community and their allies who work in the insurance sector, and leads Kennedys’ involvement of the firm’s global sponsorship of Dive In, the festival for diversity and inclusion in insurance run by Lloyd’s of London.

Thomas said of Liversidge’s appointment: “The board and I are of the view that there is no better person to help oversee the management of Kennedys, globally. Anyone who encounters Suzanne knows she brings boundless energy and enthusiasm to her work. She is immensely driven and has shown outstanding commitment to Kennedys over the past nine years.”

He continued: “We’ve experienced significant growth in recent years and there is still much more to achieve as a firm. Suzanne has a deep understanding of the insurance industry, our clients and our global network having worked with all Kennedys’ offices. She has great vision and I am proud to appoint her in this new position.”

Liversidge said: “Kennedys is a firm with great ambition, and I am looking forward to working even more closely with Nick and colleagues to continue, and improve upon, the excellent work that we are doing in the UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and Bermuda and Latin America and the Caribbean. We do things differently at Kennedys so I’m particularly energised about our client innovations and collaboration initiatives.”

“I’m honoured to have this opportunity to take Kennedys to the next stage of its evolution working alongside Nick and the global strategy board.”

In May, Kennedys reported record turnover of £218 million for the financial year 2018/19, an 11% increase on the previous financial year and the first time the firm’s revenue has topped £200 million.

Mark Dugdale