Karen Cathcart

Karen Cathcart is a Partner and medical negligence solicitor at Devonshires Claims, a specialist clinical negligence law firm based in the City of London. The firm has been named Medical Negligence Law Firm of the Year in England at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026, recognising its dedicated focus on securing compensation and answers for patients who have been harmed by substandard medical care.

A specialist medical negligence practice in London

Devonshires Claims is an award-winning medical negligence firm located at Finsbury Circus in London. The practice concentrates exclusively on clinical negligence compensation claims and works on a “no win, no fee” basis, an arrangement that allows injured patients and bereaved families to pursue claims without the burden of upfront legal costs. This approach reflects the firm’s claimant-focused ethos and its commitment to widening access to justice for people who have suffered avoidable harm during medical treatment.

As a Partner at the firm, Karen Cathcart is part of the senior team responsible for guiding clients through what can be a lengthy and emotionally difficult process. Medical negligence claims frequently involve serious, life-changing injuries, and require both legal expertise and a sensitive, supportive approach to the individuals and families affected.

Breadth of clinical negligence work

The firm handles an extensive range of medical negligence claims across many areas of healthcare. These include brain injury claims; childbirth injury and cerebral palsy claims; cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis claims; surgical errors and anaesthetic negligence; GP and NHS negligence; hospital-acquired infections and hospital negligence; dental negligence; pregnancy and gynaecology claims; and orthopaedic negligence. This breadth allows the practice to act for clients across the full spectrum of clinical settings, from primary care through to complex hospital and surgical treatment.

In England, clinical negligence claims are governed by the established principles of the law of tort. A claimant must generally show that the care they received fell below the standard reasonably expected of a competent practitioner, and that this breach of duty caused the injury complained of. Establishing both breach of duty and causation typically requires detailed medical records analysis and independent expert evidence, and claims are subject to strict limitation periods. Devonshires Claims guides clients through the investigation of their case, the gathering of expert opinion, and the negotiation or litigation needed to secure a fair outcome, whether through settlement or, where necessary, court proceedings.

Supporting injured patients and families

Compensation in clinical negligence cases is intended to help injured patients rebuild their lives, covering matters such as ongoing care and treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, and the additional costs that a serious injury can bring. For families who have lost a loved one, a claim can also provide answers and a measure of accountability. A practitioner such as Karen Cathcart plays a central role in achieving those outcomes, combining legal skill with an understanding of the personal impact of medical injury on her clients.

The role of a medical negligence partner extends well beyond the mechanics of a claim. It involves careful case selection and honest early advice about prospects, the instruction and management of the medical experts whose opinions so often determine the outcome, and skilled negotiation with defendant hospitals, trusts and their insurers. Many claims are resolved by settlement, but the credibility that comes from a firm’s readiness and ability to litigate is frequently what secures a fair result. Throughout, a partner must keep the client informed and supported through a process that can take considerable time and that touches on some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. It is this blend of technical rigour, tactical judgement and genuine client care that underpins the reputation of a leading clinical negligence practice, and that the firm’s award reflects.

Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026

The Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 — Medical Negligence Law Firm of the Year in England recognises Devonshires Claims and Karen Cathcart for the firm’s specialist contribution to clinical negligence law in England. For patients and families seeking a dedicated, claimant-focused firm with deep experience across the full range of medical negligence claims, Devonshires Claims offers an established London practice led by experienced partners committed to securing justice for those harmed by medical care.