Karen Reynolds
Partner & Head of Clinical Negligence for Derby, West Midlands & North West
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“Karen is a fantastic solicitor and an excellent professional who provides clarity in her communication. She has a wonderful ability to put everyone at ease and move things forward for her client.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2023)
Karen has over 30 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 and equipment and accommodation going forward into the future. Karen deals with all types of medical cases, but particularly represents Claimants in cerebral palsy and other birth injury cases and brain injury cases.
She has been praised 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. Karen is accredited by the Law Society as a clinical negligence specialist and by AvMA the specialist charity dealing with medical accidents.
Karen is ranked as a leading individual in Chambers & Partners (2024 edition) and is listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 (2021 edition).
Legal Services
Clinical Negligence
With over 30 years experience in the clinical negligence field, Karen has a wide ranging expertise and has helped to secure multi-million pounds settlements for her clients.
Recent Work
- Karen achieved a £3.5 million payout comprising of a lump sum together with yearly payments for life for a young woman who had most of her bowel removed as a result of the Defendant’s negligence. They had failed to appropriately diagnose and treat her bowel obstruction. The money will go to providing for her future care, suitable accommodation and aids and equipment.
- Karen represented a client who was misdiagnosed with early-onset dementia subsequent to an episode of memory loss. The client’s cognitive ability did not deteriorate any further and nearly 3 years later the diagnosis was withdrawn. Admissions were made by the Defendant that the original diagnosis was incorrect, and a substantial settlement was achieved.
- Settled a claim regarding a delay in diagnosing retinopathy of prematurity, such delay led to bilateral detachment and the opportunity was lost to successfully treat the same leading to the Claimant becoming permanently blind. The claim was complex in nature due to the Claimant’s non-negligently caused cerebral palsy and therefore the quantum aspects of the case were nuanced and complex. A substantial 7 figure settlement was achieved.
- Karen settled a claim on behalf of a family who sadly suffered the stillbirth of their child. When reduced fetal movements were noticed by the Claimant, she contacted the pregnancy assessment unit and was advised to attend. No assessment of the Claimant took place until 45 minutes after arrival with monitoring not taking place until 3 ½ hours later where sadly intrauterine foetal death was confirmed. Admissions were made by the Defendant that had appropriate monitoring and review taken place then early delivery would have occurred. A substantial settlement was achieved.
- Currently acting on behalf of a large number of women impacted by gynaecological treatment provided to them by Mr Daniel Hay, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, during his time at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. With concerns being raised by an NHS review into the care provided to around 400 women, Karen has negotiated a group action to help facilitate answers being sought and where appropriate compensation being achieved. Substantial settlements have been reached in many cases.
- Karen has been approached by many ladies who have concerns surrounding the maternity care that they have received at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust. With the Trust itself seeking to improve their maternity provision in light of a recent HSIB review and NHS England Maternity Support Team review, Karen has been in discussion with solicitors acting on behalf of the Trust to explore a potential group action which would lead to families obtaining answers in respect of their concerns in a more timely manner.
Cerebral Palsy Claims Solicitors
Karen regularly represents parents whose children have suffered cerebral palsy or brain damage as a result of negligent care during their birth. Karen ensures that her clients and their families achieve settlements that enable them to get the care, accommodation and support they need.
Recent Work
- Acted on the behalf of a Claimant who received negligent care from a consultant while in utero during the pregnancy. At a scan, polyhydramnios and reduced growth was noted but the mother was not made aware of any issues. This led to the Claimant suffering a brain injury, which could have been avoided with the right treatment, including early delivery. The settlement subsequently reached seven figures. This case was particularly significant in that it rested on the issue of consent as brought about in the Montgomery case of 1999.
- Karen represented a client who suffered with whole body dyskinetic/spastic cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level V). It was the Claimant’s argument that the Defendant Trust failed to appropriately monitor the Claimant by way of CTG (cardiotocograph) and as a result, the diagnosis of foetal bradycardia was delayed. There were also further delays in contacting the obstetrician, transferring the mother to the operating theatre and performing an instrumental delivery. These failures led to the Claimant suffering severe cerebral palsy. The case went to trial after the Defendant’s denial of liability where it was found that had the Claimant been born 10 minutes earlier, they would have sustained mild damage as opposed to severe damage. Settlement was reached in the sum of £8 million.
- Acted on behalf of a family where there was a negligent delay in admitting the mother to hospital, when the Claimant was subsequently delivered, they were found to have suffered a chronic partial hypoxic ischaemic injury resulting in permanent neurological damage and cerebral palsy. Liability investigations culminated in an 80%/20% liability settlement in favour of the Claimant. A multi-million quantum settlement was reached securing the future for the Claimant.
Acquired Brain Injury
Karen has extensive experience in cases involving the delay in diagnosing and treating meningitis.
Recent Work
- Karen successfully represented a client who suffered meningitis as a teenager. Despite review by many medical professionals they failed to appropriately diagnose and treat the meningitis which led to the Claimant suffering life changing injuries. A multi-million pound settlement was reached.
Latest
- Royal Derby Hospital Trust maternity services require improvement states the Care Quality Commission
- The CQC’s State of Health Care and Adult Social Care in England (2022/23) report highlights inadequacies in maternity services across England
- Forest House mental health support provision in Hertfordshire requiring improvement
- GP Surgery in Derby Placed Under Special Measures After the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rate it as “Inadequate”
- Are emergency healthcare providers failing to detect heart attack symptoms?
- Concerns raised over paediatric care at Royal Derby Hospital
- Maternity services under scrutiny with many in crisis
- North Midlands NHS Trust maternity services downgraded, further to CQC inspection
- University Hospitals Birmingham maternity services “inadequate” and “require improvement”
- Staffordshire and Shropshire mental health services downgraded to inadequate by Care Quality Commission
- Saving Babies’ Lives 2023 progress report – are overstretched maternity services leading to avoidable losses?
- North Midlands NHS Trust maternity services urgently require significant improvement
- Stillbirth rates at Royal Derby Hospital under scrutiny
- Findings of the Maternity Learning Review at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- Maternity Learning Review at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- Spotlight on investigations at Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Maternity tragedy: investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Investigation into Consultant Surgeon in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Mr Daniel Hay, Derby Royal Hospital and Ripley Hospital
- Consultant Gynaecologist Daniel Hay – Investigation update and support group information
- Maternity mistakes: 276,000 incidents logged in two years
- Ear, Nose & Throat Department at the Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Roger Bainton clinical negligence update: Have you been affected?
- Another rogue surgeon struck off
- QC and lawyer secure landmark ruling at the Court of Appeal
To contact Karen or for more information…
Call: 0345 272 5677
Mobile: 0771 773 0834
Or email: Send an email
- AvMA
- Law Society
“Thank you so very much for all your hard work over the last 5 years. We are very grateful to you for all the effort you have put in to achieve the compensation we received.”
“Just to say a very big thank you for all the hard work you put in our case to achieve a result. At the end of the day all we ever really wanted was justice and thanks to you we got it for myself and my family.”
“I appreciate all of the fighting you have done for me and with the outcome we as a family can settle down and move on with our lives.”
“Karen Reynolds is well respected for her ‘straight-talking and likeable manner with clients’. She focuses on obstetrics, gynaecology and cerebral palsy claims.”
“Karen provides clear instruction and is very responsive to all queries.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2024)
“She’s always 100% behind whatever you, the client, chooses to do.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2024)
“Karen Reynolds is focused, lovely to deal with, approachable and professional. She takes a real collegiate approach and one feels included in decision making.”
(The Legal 500, 2022)
“She is very straightforward and, most importantly, very tactful on what is an emotional issue.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2022)
“Marvellous with clients and very clear and objective in her approach.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2021)
“She is extremely personable, warm and relates easily with her clients.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2020)
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