Switalskis has further strengthened its growing clinical negligence team with the appointment of director and specialist in serious birth injury cases, Kay Barnes.

Kay’s arrival in Leeds follows the launch earlier this month of a Switalskis London office, home to the London clinical negligence team led by director, David Thomas.

As director, Kay will develop and lead a team of clinical negligence specialists from Switalskis' Leeds office, adding to the firm’s nationally acclaimed department which is led by Suzanne Munroe and has over 90 employees. With 25 years’ experience, Kay joins the department from her previous role as partner at Simpson Millar.

Before becoming a solicitor in 1997, Kay was a qualified nurse and midwife for 14 years and has extensive clinical knowledge and experience that will support her work with the baby loss and birth injury teams. It is her background in a clinical setting, combined with her legal experience, which gives her unique insight into the clinical arena and the issues her clients face. 

Says Kay Barnes, “My route into the legal profession is somewhat unusual but many of the skills I gained in a medical setting, including patient/client care and supporting people at a time of desperate need, are invaluable. I started my legal career in family law but I quickly realised it wasn’t for me. When I began in clinical negligence it was like putting on a glove. I’d found a role which suited me perfectly and I haven’t looked back since. It has allowed me to continue to do something I love and am passionate about, which is providing support for people in challenging circumstances.

“I regard Switalskis as one of the few law firms which genuinely puts its clients at the forefront of everything it does, and I wanted to be part of that. Suzanne is a very well-known figure in this area of law and together I am confident we will best meet the needs of clients who seek our support.”

Suzanne Munroe says, “We are committed to attracting, supporting and retaining the best talent in the industry and Kay’s appointment is very much a reflection of this. Kay has an excellent reputation based on her ability to handle and win complex clinical negligence cases whilst giving the highest level of client care. She has the full breadth of clinical negligence legal experience, with obstetrics being her core strength, and I have no doubt she is an excellent addition to our team.”