Contact: Richard West, Karim Derrick, Tony Joseph

Kennedys Kognitive Computing, in India, our technology operation, has more than doubled its office space as it continues to grow its development team.

The new office, based in the heart of Kerala’s IT hub ‘Technopark’ will house the 30-strong team but has space for up to 40 more as the firm eyes further expansion.

It takes the total office space from 3,000 to over 6,000 sq ft.

The exclusive partnership between Kennedys, which owns Kennedys IQ, and Kennedys Kognitive Computing was formed in 2017 to help drive innovation in lawtech and insurtech by developing smart technology for Kennedys IQ.

Launched in 2020, we use data-driven insight to help clients use lawyers less with products such as Portal Manager and Reputation Advisor.

Originally a team of just nine, Kennedys Kognitive Computing now employs 30 experts focused on developing technologies including rapid prototyping, application development, text analytics, machine learning and blockchain.

Karim Derrick and Richard West, of Kennedys IQ, and Tony Joseph, head of Kennedys Kognitive Computing, were among those who attended the official office opening in Kerala recently.

Tony, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the innovation and technology sector, described the move as a “stepping stone” to future growth.

Karim Derrick, head of research and innovation at Kennedys IQ, said: “Many businesses have been forced to shelve expansion plans after the challenges of the past two years, but it is testament to our brilliant team in India that we have and continue to grow.

“In the last 12 months alone, we have more than doubled our headcount in Kerala and it is really pleasing that, in such a competitive marketplace, experts are recognising the exciting work that we are doing and want to join us.”

Richard West, partner and head of client innovation at Kennedys and director of Kennedys IQ, added: “We have established ourselves as a leader in lawtech and insurtech, with a reputation for excellence and innovation which has enabled us to attract some of the sector’s best specialists.

“The work of our innovation team in Kerala and around the world has the potential to disrupt the entire legal landscape and revolutionise the way our clients are able to manage their business. This is just the start.”

Recent appointments include two new data scientists in Kerala and Antonio Acuña MBE, a former government advisor who joined Kennedys as head of data strategy based in London.

We also announced last month that Kennedys  led a consortium that was awarded funding from Innovate UK to develop Reputation Advisor, a groundbreaking tool able to identify and analyse a firm’s reputational risk.

Kennedys IQ is wholly owned by Kennedys.