Catherine Ewins

Catherine undertakes many aspects of clinical negligence work, including claims arising out of obstetric errors, strokes, cauda equina, a lack of consent/failure to advise as to the risks of surgery, failures to diagnose and/or treat properly, negligent surgery, the negligent administration of drugs, wrongful birth, fatal cases and related claims for nervous shock.

Recent cases include:

• BTZ  v an NHS Trust– acute profound hypoxia at birth resulting in severe dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy with profound developmental delay – settlement approved March 2026 with periodical payments (amounting to ~£17.8m on a capitalised basis) with a Peter undertaking
• LJN v an NHS Trust – brain damage consequent upon a failure to diagnose an illness resulting in a mild right hemiparetic cerebral palsy with limb incoordination, cognitive deficit and autism – settlement approved March 2026 with periodical payments (amounting to ~ £9m on a capitalised basis)
• Junior counsel to Spire Healthcare Limited in the Inquests arising out of the deaths of patients of Mr Ian Paterson, breast surgeon, who were treated for breast cancer – multiple deaths – many interested parties - wide scope of investigation into whether hospitals and clinical colleagues should have been put on notice of the wrongdoings earlier
• JKL v an NHS Trust- a prolonged partial hypoxic ischaemia at birth leading to cognitive and neuropsychological problems including a borderline/mild learning disability (but no physical disability) - settlement approved November 2025 with periodical payments (amounting to ~ £5.5m on a capitalised basis)
• LMN v Swansea Bay University Health Board [2025] EWHC 3402 (KB) – represented LMN in a trial on liability in front of HHJ Dight CBE, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, arising out of a protracted birth where the fetal head was impacted in the maternal pelvis
• AXC v an NHS Trust – a young woman with a very severe eating disorder suffered a hypoglycaemic brain injury consequent upon a failure to monitor blood sugar levels - issues regarding whether her needs were qualitatively different to what she had required before and whether she reasonably required private accommodation - settlement approved in January 2025 including periodical payments (amounting to ~£6.6m on a capitalised basis) - with a reverse indemnity clause
• VV v an NHS Trust – an above knee amputation in a relatively elderly woman with pre-existing difficulties – settlement in July 2025 for £1.25m
• TT v a Health Board – a below knee amputation in a relatively elderly man following the wrongful use of anti-embolic stockings – settled July 2025 for £1.5m
• XX v an NHS Trust– wrongful birth claim arising out of an ante-natal failure to detect a neurodevelopmental disability of the fetus – settled April 2025 with a periodical payments order (amounting to ~£5m on a capitalised basis)
• BY v an NHS Trust – a failure to diagnose supraglottitis leading to a severe injury to the larynx and an inability to speak – settled in April 2025 for ~ £3m
• SZ v an NHS Trust – a small bowel perforation during surgery leading to complications – settled in July 2025 for ~£1.35m
• CZ v an NHS Trust – failure to diagnose and repair a 4th degree perineal tear – settled in 2025 for ~£1.25m
• HXA v an NHS Trust and an Ambulance Service - a teenager suffered a TIA which was misdiagnosed and then there was a stroke and a delay in treatment – significant brain injury resulting in a left hemiparesis and cognitive and neuro-behavioural problems with executive dysfunction -settlement approved in June 2024 including periodical payments (amounting to ~ £10.6m on a capitalised basis)
• VW v an NHS Trust and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care  - periventricular haemorrhage in a very premature baby leading to a mixed type of cerebral palsy with learning difficulties – liability approved on the basis of an 80% settlement in 2022 – quantum settlement approved in February 2024 including periodical payments (amounting to ~£13.5m on a capitalised basis)
• ZZ v an Ambulance Service and an NHS Trust – a young woman died following a failure to recognise and treat a heart condition – settlement approved in October 2024 for ~ £1m.
• YY v a Health Board – a young woman suffered an unrecognised cauda equina and in addition an unrecognised ophthalmic condition leading to severe visual loss – settlement in June 2024 for ~£4.6m
• AZ v an NHS Trust – a failure to diagnose and treat a ureteric stone causing sepsis and bilateral leg amputations – settled June 2024 for ~£2.5m
• AA v an NHS Trust – a neonate who had surgery for a critical aortic stenosis then suffered an unrecognised deterioration which led to a cardiorespiratory arrest and a severe profound hypoxic insult to the brain and a consequential cerebral palsy – settlement approved in May 2023 including periodical payments (amounting to ~ £10.5m on a capitalised basis)
• SZD v an NHS Trust – a failure to diagnose TIA in a young woman who then suffered a very debilitating stroke – settled 2023 for ~£5.75m
• Pickering v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 1171 (QB) – successful trial on liability re failure to give heparin resulting in a stroke
• Critchlow v University Hospitals of N Midlands NHS Trust [2022] EWHC 949 (QB) – trial on liability re an alleged failure to diagnose DVT/pulmonary embolism
• SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1610 (QB)  – successful trial on liability re late diagnosis of meningitis before Johnson J.
• SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1445 (QB) – re application to adjourn in the light of the pandemic
• Inquest arising out of a death following fall in hospital - 2022
• CX v an NHS Trust – a failure to diagnose compartment syndrome leading to significant mobility problems – case settled June 2022 for ~ £2.75m
• ZA v an NHS Trust - a failure to diagnose a DVT in a young woman leading to post thrombotic syndrome – settled 2022
• WX v an NHS Trust - a GP failure to refer for investigations resulting in a late diagnosis of bowel cancer – settled 2022
• GHI  v an NHS Trust - a failure to refer for investigations of DVT/pulmonary embolism, leading to death – settled 2022
• ZA v an NHS Trust - a failure to diagnose compartment syndrome – settled 2021
• HKJ v an NHS Trust - inappropriate ankle surgery leading to a below-knee amputation – settled 2021
• WSA v an NHS Trust - a failure to treat a hernia, leading to death – settled 2021
• Inquest in 2021 and subsequent settlement in a case arising out of an anaphylactic reaction to drugs given in hospital
• CVS v an NHS Trust - a failure to repair adequately a perineal tear – settled 2021
• KYT v an NHS Trust - a failure to offer a caesarean section where there was a risk of shoulder dystocia, leading to a child born with cerebral palsy – settled liability in 2021
• The Ian Paterson litigation- junior counsel to Spire Healthcare Ltd (led by Christina Lambert KC, as she then was) - 2014 to 2017 - large scale litigation involving whether a private hospital was primarily and vicariously liable for the torts of a surgeon and whether the NHS owed a duty of care to patients in the private sector, or to the private sector hospital itself, to take action where there were indications of malpractice in respect of an employed surgeon.
• Bradbury & others v Paterson and others [2014] EWHC 3992 (QBD) – re the termination of a litigation friend’s appointment.

Catherine has considerable experience of representing nurses before their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and has appeared at interim hearings, substantive hearings and reviews involving matters of misconduct and incompetence and health issues. She has also appeared before the Health Professions Council.  Catherine has also acted on appeals to the Administrative Court involving questions of fitness to practise and sentence.

Catherine undertakes all aspects of personal injury work, for both claimants and defendants, including:

• Fatal accidents
• Employers’ liability cases
• High value cases involving periodical payments
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims

Recent cases include:

• Case concerning a man who sustained a serious crush injury to a foot at work
• Case of an assault by a taxi driver causing severe brain injury
• Fatal RTA case of a young man who worked for his family’s company - complex issues as to the calculation of the dependency
• Case involving a child who sustained a very serious head injury

Lawyers

Catherine specialises in cases arising out of failed or badly managed clinical negligence or personal injury litigation.

"Catherine is very calm and methodical and makes solicitors and clients feel at ease in her presence." Legal 500, 2026 

"Catherine is an outstanding barrister. Her attention to detail is second to none. She deals with difficult complex matters with empathy and understanding, which clients appreciate." Chambers UK, 2025

"It is impossible to fault Catherine. She is leading counsel in quality, has an extraordinary eye for detail and is able to synthesise a huge amount of information." Chambers UK, 2025

"Catherine is very good. She is a very good, a tenacious advocate and forensic in her detail." Chambers UK, 2025

"Catherine is meticulously forensic and is absolutely someone you want in your corner on a complex claim. A particular strength is speed of response which allows momentum to continue on a case." Legal 500, 2025

"She is excellent in conference, particularly with vulnerable clients, and her advocacy is exceptional." Chambers UK, 2024

"She is ferociously intelligent, thorough, forensic, analytical and well prepared." Chambers UK, 2024

"Catherine identifies and grasps the issues quickly and completely. She is thorough and exceptionally detailed in her analysis of a case." Chambers UK, 2024

"Catherine is an outstanding barrister. She is intellectually brilliant and her attention to detail is remarkable." Legal 500, 2024

"She is empathetic and skilled with clients. She explains legal principles carefully and comprehensively." Chambers UK, 2023

"Catherine is outstanding. Her pleadings are meticulous and she is a fantastic advocate." Chambers UK, 2023

"Her preparation, advocacy and ability to think on her feet is simply outstanding." Chambers UK, 2023

“She is hugely diligent, very responsive and gets to the heart of a problem very quickly.” Chambers UK, 2022

“Catherine is breathtakingly clever. Her ability to think on her feet is outstanding.” Chambers UK, 2022

“Forensic attention to detail, comprehensive preparation, detailed analysis of medicine and law, dedicated, empathetic, incredibly conscientious, excellent with clients, not afraid to be firm and combative where necessary.” Legal 500, 2022

“Shows a determined and unrivalled drive to achieve the best for the client.” Legal 500, 2021

“Excellent in mediations and very impressive in conference.” “She doesn’t leave any stone unturned and her eye for detail is tremendous.” Chambers UK, 2021

“She is always calm and collected and her attention to detail is really fantastic.” Chambers UK, 2020

“She is a tenacious and formidable force in settlements negotiations” Legal 500, 2020

“Really diligent Her forensic eye for detail is second to none” Chambers UK, 2019

“Great with clients” Chambers UK, 2019 

“She has a great eye for detail and is a highly accomplished negotiator” Legal 500, 2019

“Clever and fantastic with figures.  She is really thorough and efficient.  She puts the client at the heart of everything” Chambers UK, 2018

“Robust with opponents and approachable with clients” Legal 500, 2017

“An excellent grasp of complex medical issues and investigates them thoroughly.” Legal 500, 2017

“She is extremely intelligent and has an incredible in-depth understanding of the law whilst remaining attuned to the sensitivities of the client.” Chambers UK, 2017

“She’s very clever and her attention to detail is outstanding.” Chambers UK, 2017

“Highly intelligent, competent, thorough and accessible.” Legal 500, 2016

“Catherine is a tremendous workhorse. She is very good at sifting through a lot of detail and distilling it down into something that can be worked with.” Chambers UK, 2016

“She is very easy to get along with. Nothing is too much trouble.” Chambers UK, 2016

“She has a good combination of a true eye for detail and an overall tactical awareness.” Legal 500, 2015

LMN v Swansea Bay University Health Board [2025] EWHC 3402 (KB) – represented LMN in a trial on liability in front of HHJ Dight CBE, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, arising out of a protracted birth where the fetal head was impacted in the maternal pelvis

Critchlow v University Hospitals of N Midlands NHS Trust [2022] EWHC 949 (QB) – trial on liability re an alleged failure to diagnose DVT/pulmonary embolism

Pickering v Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2022] EWHC 1171 (QB) – successful trial on liability re failure to give heparin resulting in a stroke

SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1610 (QB)  – successful trial on liability re late diagnosis of meningitis

SC (a child) v University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 1445 (QB) – re application to adjourn in the light of the pandemic

Bradbury & others v Paterson and others [2014] EWHC 3992 (QBD)

Jalloh v NMC [2009] EWHC 1697 (Admin) Silber J – appeal regarding fitness to practise of a nurse

NMC v Livermore [2005] All ER (D) 127 – appeal from sanction imposed by the NMC

Chabba v Turbogame [2001] EWCA Civ 1073 – service of claim form

Woolgar v Chief Constable of the Sussex Police and the UKCC [1999] 3 All ER 604 – disclosure of material to a regulatory body

Education: 

• MA (law) Cambridge – King’s College (Hurst Prize for law)
• Université Libre de Bruxelles (Licence Spéciale en droit Européen),
• Bar Vocational Course (Junior Scholar Gray’s Inn, Graham Challis Scholarship, Gray’s Inn).

ICO Data protection registration number: Z7093765. 

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