Ruwena Khan

Head of PI & Clinical Negligence Team

Year of call

2005

Career details

Education

Advocacy Training Council Accredited

2001 - 2004

LLB (Hons), University of Manchester

2004 - 2005

BVC, Inns of Court School of Law

2012

Advocacy Training Council Accredited

Appointments

2012 - 2022

Bar Course Freelance Tutor - Advocacy, Written Skills, Civil Litigation and Professional Ethics - Bar Course, BPP, Leeds

2013 - 2016

Chairperson - Leeds Unicef Group

2019

Deputy District Judge, North Eastern Circuit

2020

PDSL Accredited and IMI Qualified Mediator

2021

AvMA Helpline Volunteer

2022

Head of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team, PSQB

2024

Personal Injury Bar Association Executive Committee Member

2025

Recorder - North Eastern Circuit - Crime

Memberships

Inner Temple

North Eastern Circuit

Personal Injury Bar Assocation

Awards

2006

Louise Godfrey QC Advocacy Competition Winner (North Eastern Circuit)

2014 +

Legal 500 Leading Junior in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

Languages

Bengali (fluent)

French (fluent)

German (conversational)

Italian (Basic)

Personal injury & clinical negligence

Non Court Dispute Resolution

Ruwena is the Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team at Chambers. Ranked as Leading Junior in Legal 500 (2026) and Chambers and Partners (2026) for Personal Injury.

“A good negotiator, whose advocacy is measured, calm and efficient”

-The Legal 500 (2026)

Ruwena is a Legal 500 Leading Junior in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence law 2026, recommended as being “extremely capable”, “highly experienced across a range of personal injury matters” and having “strong legal knowledge

“Ruwena is simply brilliant in all aspects, turns around instructions quickly and easily forms a good relationship with clients, putting them at ease.”

-Chambers and Partners (2026)

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 was further appointed as a Recorder sitting in Crime in 2024 (North Eastern Circuit). She is a PDSL accredited and IMI qualified Mediator. Ruwena is a member of the Personal Injury Bar Association Executive Committee, with a particular focus on ED&I.

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

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

Example 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)

"She is committed to the area. She is deputy district judge which means she has insight and clients like that; they value it."

Chambers and Partners (2026)

"Ruwena has an analytical eye for detail, and her extremely personable manner puts clients and witnesses at ease."

The Legal 500 (2025)

"A powerful advocate"

- The Legal 500 (2025)

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.

Testimonials

“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 became an Accredited and IMI Qualified Mediator in 2020. She was called to the Bar in 2005, has been a Legal 500 Leading Junior and became the Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team at Park Square Barristers in 2022.

Ruwena was appointed a Deputy District Judge in 2019, dealing in all Civil and Private Law matters. Through both her practice as a Barrister and as a DDJ, Ruwena recognises the fundamental importance of ADR in achieving a positive outcome in contentious matters. Ruwena believes that the advantages of mediation are profound, including the saving of time, costs, emotional stress and the building of bridges. She welcomes the increased encouragement and use of mediation in the litigation process by rules, courts and wider education of the process.

Ruwena is happy to consider instructions in all civil cases both as a Mediator and as a party within Mediation. She has particular expertise in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence matters.