Ranked in The Legal 500 (2022) for Personal Injury.
“Ruwena has attention to detail and compassion for her clients in equal measure – perfect for taking vulnerable clients through complex proceedings. ” – The Legal 500 (2022)
“Experienced in both claimant and defendant work.” – The Legal 500 (2021)
Ruwena is the Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team at Chambers. She is a Legal 500 Leading Junior in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence law, recommended as being “extremely capable”, “highly experienced across a range of personal injury matters” and having “strong legal knowledge”.
Ruwena is a thorough and robust advocate with extensive experience acting for both Claimants and Defendants in catastrophic and serious injury cases, including traumatic brain and spinal injury. Her clinical negligence practice includes birth injury, negligent spinal surgery and delayed diagnosis claims. She is instructed at all stages of litigation, regularly conducting multi-expert conferences and leading settlement meetings.
Ruwena was appointed a Deputy District Judge in 2019 (North Eastern Circuit) and sits in all areas of Civil and Private Law. She is a PDSL accredited and IMI qualified Mediator.
Ruwena undertakes voluntary work for AvMA, guiding patients and their families through the clinical negligence process.
Areas of Expertise
- Catastrophic and Serious Injury Claims
- Clinical Negligence
Notable Cases
- Led in a multi-million pound claim for lifelong serious injuries, including severe traumatic brain injury, neurocognitive disorder and multiple fractures. Preparation of Counter-Schedule for JSM where matter was settled.
- Led in a multi-million pound case involving traumatic brain injury, long-term disability and issues of fraud. Interlocutory hearings and drafting undertaken on behalf of the Defendant.
- In a multi-million pound claim against the employer, in which Ruwena drafted advices and pleadings, undertook conferences and a subsequent successful JSM, the Claimant suffered CRPS, chronic pain and significant psychological injury following an accident whilst working as a Ward Nurse.
- Acted for the Claimant, who had a pre-existing general poor level of neuropsychological functioning and was injured in a cycling accident. The case involved complex issues in respect of traumatic brain injury, exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerability, future long-term case management/support and legal capacity.
- Represented the Claimant in an employers’ liability claim for damages in which the Claimant suffered significant complex multiple physical and psychological injuries, including musculo-skeletal damage to the lumbar spine, neuropathic pain, change in bladder function and significant exacerbation of Somatic Symptoms Disorder.
Seminars
Ruwena has vast experience in providing Seminars tailored to the needs and requirements of all levels of legal and medical professionals, from case workers to Partners. Recent Seminars include:
- Clinical Negligence Recent Developments
- An Introduction to Cosmetic Surgery Claims
- Consent in Clinical Negligence Claims
- New Rules on Disclosure, Witness Statements, Expert Evidence and Everything Inbetween
- Multiple Injury Claims and Valuation
Articles
- Bar National Mock Trial Competition 20th Anniversary (13th March, 2011 for The Times)
- Touching a Nerve – Clinical Negligence, Atkinson v South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2014] (June 2014, PI Brief Update Law Journal)
- Clinical Negligence: Reducing the Patient’s Life By Four Months (Cutting v Islam) (July/August 2014, Personal Injury Law Journal)
- Doctor! Doctor! Can I Have a Second Opinion? (September 2014, PI Brief Update Law Journal)
- Extensions of Time to File Notices of Appeal and Relief from Sanctions (January 2015, PI Brief Update Law Journal)
- Litigants in Person and Costs Budgeting (September 2016, Local Government Lawyer)
- Not Looking So Good: Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedure – Where Are We Now? (May 2018, Personal Injury Law Journal)
- Clinical Consent – Where Are We Now? (December 2020, Personal Injury Law Journal)
Contact Ruwena’s clerks
Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252
Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609
Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268
Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207
