New era as Kennedys merges with aviation sector specialist

The merger enables Kennedys to offer legal support to the aviation sector, including advice about corporate and commercial work, and areas of law relating to regulation, competition, employment, finance, insurance and dispute resolution.

It also enables Kennedys to strengthen its aviation and liability services to its global insurance and reinsurance clients.

In a statement, Kennedys said: “For Gates and Partners – recognised globally as a leading aviation law firm – the merger gives it an even greater international platform to expand its client relationships and specialist aviation and aerospace industry services.

“The aviation expertise of Gates and Partners, combined with the strong and diverse national and international practice of Kennedys, will allow the aerospace team to enhance its current offering on all aspects of aviation law.”

The merger takes Kennedys’ partner count to 176. Altogether, it employs around 1,120 people worldwide.

The specialist aviation team, Kennedys Aviation, will be made up of 60 people including 20 partners. The merged firm will be known as Kennedys, and will be led by senior partner Nick Thomas,

Gates and Partners’ senior partner Sean Gates will retire from the firm this summer, to pursue other interests in the aviation in- dustry.

He added: “I leave the firm in a tremendously strong position. Gates and Partners has carved out a position as the only international law firm wholly dedicated to the aviation and aerospace sectors and it will now be able to grow further, benefiting from Kennedys international platform, wider legal expertise and its strong sector focus.”

Kennedys established a base in Sheffield three years ago. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg officially opened the office in October 2010.

The Liberal Democrat leader was invited to unveil a plaque at the offices – at the Digital Campus, off Sheaf Street – to mark the opening.

The Sheffield office was the ninth branch of Kennedys to open in the UK.