Kennedys Partner Named President of London Insurance Lawyers' Forum

Fleur Rochester, a Partner at Kennedys, has been appointed President of the London Forum of Insurance Lawyers (London FOIL). London FOIL, a division of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL), focuses on the challenges facing the global insurance and reinsurance markets operating in England’s capital.

Fleur succeeds Toby Vallance, Partner at DAC Beachcroft, who served during a challenging time marked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict impacting the insurance market and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The London (re)insurance market faces uncertainties from geopolitical, financial, and regulatory landscapes, affecting the nature and volume of claims. With over 20 years’ industry experience, Fleur aims to guide legal professionals in supporting insurer clients amidst ongoing challenges.

These challenges include geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, digitization, claims inflation, ESG issues, and increased industry regulations. Alexander Penberthy, Partner at Birketts, will serve as Vice-President of London FOIL, assisting Fleur.

Fleur expressed excitement about her appointment, acknowledging the complexities ahead for insurers due to various external factors. FOIL CEO Laurence Besemer commended Fleur's awareness of market pressures and labeled her the ideal candidate to lead London FOIL.

Laurence emphasized the importance of leveraging the collective knowledge of London FOIL members to address industry pressures in 2024.