LAWYER PROFILE
Karen Reynolds

Karen Reynolds

UK 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Freeths LLP

Practice Areas

Karen has over 25 years experience of acting for Claimants in clinical negligence claims.

She particularly specialises in claims involving profound brain injuries and pursues the compensation necessary to provide the clients with full support, aids, equipment, and accommodation going forward into the future.

Karen deals with all types of medical cases, but particularly represents Claimants in maxillofacial cases, obstetrics cases, gynaecological cases, cerebral palsy cases, birth injury cases and other brain injury cases.

Karen is the lead solicitor on two high profile group actions. The first is a Maxillofacial group action in respect of care provided by Roger Bainton. Group action cases worth in excess of £1,000,000. The second is a Gynaecological group action in respect of care provided by Daniel Hay.

Career

Karen represented the Claimant in Webster v Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2017] ECWA Civ 62. This decision has been referred to as a “landmark case” and emphasised the importance of patient choice in respect of the treatment they receive, an area of practice which is becoming increasingly important.

Karen acted on a delay in diagnosis of meningitis claim and successful settled for a lump sum payment of £3 million, plus periodical payments of £120,000 per annum.

Karen achieved a £3.5 million pay-out comprising of a lump sum together with yearly payments for life for a young woman who had most of her bowel negligently removed.

Karen acted on a Cerebral Palsy claim and agreed a 50/50 split on liability. The claim was settled for a lump sum payment of £1 million, plus periodical payments of £80,000 per annum. She acted on further Cerebral Palsy birth injury claims that were settled for approximately £12million and £7.5million respectively.

Karen acted on a case regarding a failure to appropriately manage CSF leak after brain tumour surgery. The claim was settled for £728,000.

Karen has also successfully settled for £230,000, regarding a delay in diagnosing and treating Cauda Equina Syndrome

Professional Memberships

Karen is accredited by the Law Society as a clinical negligence specialist, and by Action for the Victims of Medical Accidents (AvMA).

Publications

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2020/09/28/investigation-update-and-support-group-information/

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2017/12/21/maternity-mistakes-276000-incidents-logged-in-two-years/

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2016/03/16/ear-nose-and-throat-department-at-the-burton-hospitals-nhs-foundation-trust/

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2015/12/04/roger-bainton-clinical-negligence-update-have-you-been-affected/

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2017/09/14/another-rogue-surgeon-struck-off/

https://www.freeths.co.uk/2017/02/15/KC-lawyer-secure-landmark-ruling-court-appeal/

Personal

Karen is known for her direct approach being able to explain complex medical terminology to Claimants and make them feel at ease when going through a very difficult and traumatic process. Her aim is to take away the stress of seeking compensation at what is very often an emotional and disturbing time.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Clinical Negligence: Mainly Claimant - Midlands

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial
Karen Reynolds is head of the firm's clinical negligence department in Derby. She possesses strong expertise in birth injury cases, often involving cerebral palsy, as well as delay and misdiagnosis claims. She also has experience handling group actions.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • She is extremely experienced and handles a lot of big cases and gets good results, she has a strong established track record in these cases.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly ClaimantChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
  • Karen is very approachable, down to earth and very good at building relationships with lawyers and experts, which means she'll explain things well to me.

    Clinical Negligence: Mainly ClaimantChambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Ranked Individuals at Freeths LLP (111)

East Midlands

London (Firms)

Midlands

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