Ms Bartlett brings over 15 years of experience in defending claims and advising on coverage and practises in financial lines, D&O and professional indemnity.

Kennedys managing partner Matt Andrews said: “Financial lines is core to our insurance expertise, and Alex’s appointment enables us to build on the work we are already doing with local and international clients.

“In the last five years, our insurance practice has more than doubled in size, and we are pleased to welcome Alex to our growing team.”

Speaking about her appointment, Ms Bartlett said she is “delighted” to join Kennedys, calling it an “excellent” insurance firm with a strong reputation in the marketplace.

“Insurance is a global industry, and being part of a global firm means that my insurer clients will have access to top-quality international legal resources. Kennedy also has a modern outlook which is exciting – particularly with respect to its technology platforms and promotion of diversity,” she said.

Reflecting on the gender ratio, she said: “It is important to me that I’m joining a firm with an almost-equal ratio of male and female partners. Most insurers take their commitments to gender diversity seriously and expect their legal advisers to engage in the genuine promotion of women.

“I am pleased to be a partner in a firm that is as forward-thinking as its clients.”

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She joins the firm at a “pivotal time”, Kennedys said in a statement, noting that Australia is emerging from lockdown and the insurance industry is looking ahead to developments that the new year will bring.

“It’s an interesting time in insurance law; for instance, in the D&O space, everyone will be watching the market disclosure reforms and their impact on securities class actions,” Ms Bartlett said.

“There have been many predictions from industry experts and in the media; it will be interesting to see how they play out.”