The new leaders head up the firm’s Australian financial lines practice together
Melbourne partner Nicole Wearne has been appointed Kennedys’ new Australian managing partner while Sydney managing partner James Melvin is the firm’s new regional managing partner for APAC.
Wearne succeeded Jonathan Wyatt as of 18 February, while Melvin will step into his new leadership role on 1 March. The two new leaders head up Kennedys’ Australian financial lines practice together.
Wearne commenced with Kennedys as a partner in June 2024. She is part of its global governance group and has brought board and governance experience to the table.
She has worked on financial lines disputes for over three decades. She concentrates on defending complex litigation across financial lines, professional indemnity, regulatory disputes and class action work – a practice she will maintain alongside her new position.
Melvin recorded a stint in Kennedys’ London office and gleaned 12 years of experience in the city’s insurance market before moving to Australia in 2015, becoming the firm’s Sydney managing partner. He provides defence and coverage advice within financial lines, D&O, management liability, regulatory investigations and professional indemnity.
Melvin succeeds Matt Andrews, who will remain in the global executive group and focus on his practice centred on significant insurance disputes and commercial litigation. At present, Andrews is the lead Australian partner on the multi-jurisdictional litigation resulting from the Greensill Capital collapse.
Andrews and Wyatt were regional managing partner for APAC and Australian managing partner, respectively, for three years; like Andrews, Wyatt will now be concentrating on his practice.
