Kennedys adds nationally recognized aviation trial boutique Cunningham Swaim

Experienced aviation trial team Cunningham Swaim joins Kennedys, strengthening its global aviation and insurance capabilities and more than doubling its Texas presence with a new Dallas office.

DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global litigation and dispute resolution law firm Kennedys has announced that a 14-attorney team from Dallas-based aviation trial boutique firm Cuningham Swaim have joined.

Led by partners Ross Cunningham and Steven Sanfelippo, one of the largest aviation trial teams in the US brings decades of experience representing airlines, insurers, manufacturers and other aviation sector stakeholders in some of the most complex and high-exposure aviation trials in the US. Ross Cunningham and Don Swaim are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), reflecting the team's extensive courtroom experience. Collectively, the team has handled more than 200 aviation trials nationwide, spanning more than 1,500 trial days, with a practice across catastrophic aviation losses, complex liability disputes, high-profile commercial matters and significant appellate proceedings.

The team's depth of experience and track record has made them a go-to resource for clients facing significant aviation claim exposure and litigation risk. In one highly publicized example, Ross served as lead defense counsel in the litigation arising from the Calabasas-area helicopter crash involving Kobe Bryant and several other passengers.

Kennedys has an established global aviation practice, with teams across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. With approximately 50 lawyers, including 17 partners, the practice provides coordinated cross-border support to clients on complex aviation matters. The addition of the Cunningham Swaim team further expands and strengthens this international offering, connecting its deep US trial experience with Kennedys' global reach and broader insurance capabilities.

The arrival of the team will expand the firm's presence in Texas by establishing a new Dallas office, providing a new base from which to serve clients across aviation, product liability and insurance sectors.

Eric Hiller, US Managing Partner, comments,

"Aviation is a highly specialized and increasingly global area of risk, and our clients value the ability to draw on sector knowledge across jurisdictions when complex matters arise. Bringing Ross, Steve and their team to Kennedys allows us to build on our existing capabilities and bring together complementary experience and resources for clients facing sophisticated aviation matters. We are delighted to welcome the team and look forward to what we can achieve together."

Ross Cunningham, name partner at Cunningham Swaim, said, 

"Our practice has been built around being there when the stakes are at their highest. Aviation litigation can involve extraordinary factual, technical and legal complexity, and clients need an agile, creative team they can trust to navigate those challenges and deliver results. We have been fortunate to build longstanding relationships with clients who turn to us for some of their most significant matters. As I often say, 'Lots of firms get calls, but only one firm gets the first call.' Joining Kennedys gives us the opportunity to bring that experience and focus to a firm with the global reach, resources, existing aviation expertise and insurance depth to support our clients wherever their matters take them."

Steven Sanfelippo adds,

"Kennedys provides an exceptional platform for the next stage of our practice. Its deep roots in the insurance industry, global aviation capabilities and collaborative approach create opportunities for us to work with colleagues across jurisdictions and bring an even broader range of resources to our clients."

The addition of the team comes as Kennedys continues to build momentum across its global and North American operations. In its FY26 financial results, the firm reported its 12th consecutive year of growth, with global revenue rising 9.1% to a record $615 million. North America was among the firm's strongest-performing regions, with revenue increasing 22.5%.

The firm has continued to expand its US platform through strategic lateral hires, new offices and investment in specialist practices. In the US, Kennedys now has 13 offices, with more than 100 partners and over 330 attorneys total, with recent growth including significant additions in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The addition of this aviation team and the launch of the Dallas office support Kennedys' broader strategy of combining sector-specific experience with a growing geographic footprint to meet the increasingly complex needs of clients operating across North America and international markets.

About Kennedys
Kennedys is a global litigation and dispute resolution firm. With over 3,000 people across 45 offices in 18 countries, our teams provide innovative and tailored legal solutions wherever our clients need us. We collaborate seamlessly across our global footprint in our practice areas of coverage, defense, corporate & commercial, financial lines and cyber in supporting a broad range of industries such as aviation, energy, marine and healthcare. Our lawyers have deep experience in pre- and post-litigation support, coverage issues, dispute resolution and advisory services. In FY26, Kennedys recorded revenue of approximately $615 million.

For more information, please visit: www.kennedyslaw.com
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SOURCE Kennedys