Kennedys’ established common law capability in Mexico supporting seamless cross-border work

Kennedys’ Mexico team has long included attorneys qualified across key common law jurisdictions, including England and Wales, Ireland, and New Zealand. 

This distinctive capability allows us to support international insurers, reinsurers, and global clients navigating complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, bridging civil law systems in Latin America and the common law frameworks underpinning global insurance markets. 

With lawyers in Mexico who understand both legal systems, we streamline cross-border claims, coverage advice, and dispute resolution, reducing friction and ensuring a consistent approach across jurisdictions. 

Regional leadership and deep sector experience 

The team is led by Michael Hennessy, Regional Managing Partner, dual-qualified in Mexico and England and Wales. With over 20 years of experience, Mike is widely regarded as a “go-to lawyer in Mexico,” advising across Latin America. 

As Head of Large or Complex Claims and Reinsurance, he leads on high-value, technically complex matters spanning energy, property, mining, marine, aviation, financial lines, and catastrophic risks. 

He is supported by a team with strong international credentials: 

• George Phillips, a New Zealand-qualified solicitor, focuses on insurance and reinsurance coverage and disputes, with experience across both common law and civil law jurisdictions. His work spans financial lines, cyber, energy, property, and catastrophic risks, often involving complex, multi-region matters across Latin America, the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.

• Steven Colgan, qualified in Ireland, has extensive experience defending insurers in aviation war risks, Montreal and Athens Convention claims, and mass casualty events. Now based in Mexico, he advises reinsurers handling LATAM risks placed through the London market.