Karen is the founder of A City Law Firm having been admitted to the roll in 2005. Having obtained her degree in Law, Karen went on to achieve a Masters from the University of Cambridge and her LPC from the College of Law. Her studies were conducted whilst working full-time as a senior member of management in the public sector.
Karen's experience prior to establishing the firm was managing a busy UK department within an international London based law firm. She managed solicitors of varying experiences across several areas of law building up an impressive client base and caseload. She was often in the High Court of Justice and County Court representing clients and frequently managed mediations, multinational disputes and high value complex disputes. Karen has managed in excess of 200 people throughout her career and was asked by other law firms to consult on cases outside of their comfort zone, which they still do now.
She established the firm to provide experienced and dynamic solicitors in the City of London, who could think outside the box, whilst delivering at competitive costs. Having worked for large target based commercial law firms she wanted to offer a place where individuals and companies could obtain sound legal advice and develop a relationship with her firm that it trusted and relied upon. Clients have followed Karen since 2003 when she was training due to her track record in getting result.
Karen oversees our high-net worth clients, entrepreneurs and celebrity clients. She handles complex disputes including High Court cases. She also creates structures for businesses and individuals seeking to secure investment either through equity share, EIS or corporate bonds and debt financing, by making them legally investment ready and through regulated tax advisors commercially aware of the types of structures available. Current achievements she that she won a case in the Court of Appeal in 2016 that was lost by a top Magic Circle Firm; she settled two cases against two very large city institutions who had top magic circle firms on the books for double the price tag.
Karen also has a wealth of experience addressing LGBT matters, some of which have been particularly harrowing. As a result, she strives to enhance the legal resources available to the community and help support members find an equal footing. The firm sponsors a number of organisations and people who drive the community forward and this is specifically driven by Karen who challenges all forms of discrimination, harassment or unfair treatment. Stonewall often refer clients to us, we are exclusive lawyers in Attitude, we frequently talk on surrogacy and rarely will you see a firm offer a specialist LGBT section to its firm.
Karen is highly regarded by her clients. Her longest standing client of 13 years say's she has a command of litigation and her robust approach has always proven successful for our company. It's her initiative and drive that means we achieve results, even my opponent after he lost to us engaged her afterwards he was that impressed.
Karen has won Best Business Women in Legal Services and Legal advisor of the year in 2017; She was also a finalist for Best Business & Legal Advisor of the year in finance 2017
Her team won Employment Team of the year 2017 from the Solicitors Journal and was a finalist for Commercial Team of the Year
Karen was given an Albert for her charitable work for the Albert Kennedy Trust for setting up and running a successful, exclusive members networking group that boosted business in the LGBT business world whilst assisting AKT's charity.
As the result of her personal innovation the firm won The Most Innovative Law Firm, London; was listed in the Legal 100 for Employment Work and awarded Business Law Firm 2017.
She also received recognition and awards in the early days of the firm for her pioneering approach to offering legal services such as alternative family law surrogacy and co-parenting & advice on niche areas HIV discrimination by insurance companies and employers. Frequently, she is asked to talk at conferences, seminars and provide editorial in various publications
Karen is frequently asked to give specialist talks and give expert advice at the Law Society, University of Law , Business Funding Show and Natwest events across London. She has also appeared on various radio stations.
She publishes monthly blogs in IS4profit, Small Business and Enterprise times , which advises entrepreneurs and businesses.
Karen can be seen giving comments or articles in Home & Country magazine, the Guardian, the Daily Mail, London Loves Business, Grazia, Intercontinental Law & Finance Magazine, Innovation Enterprise, We are your City, Wealth & Finance International First Women, Just Entrepreneurs to name but a few.
Assistance with UK company launching into the USA coordinating array of USA Attorneys
High profile overseas royal family member's overseas Trust dispute
Sports sponsorship termination dispute between Argentina and the UK (£250,000)
Successful High Court freezing order/injunction & civil claim and assisting with the criminal/private prosecution of the same party for fraud, theft and deception (£263,000)
Settling a Transgender discrimination case for a large compensation sum without the stress of court
Broadcasting license deal, film production bond, royalty agreement & associated documents for a group company (current worth 11 Million)
Vice President employment dispute concluding in a confidential settlement agreement (1.3Million)
Executive Director sex discrimination & Harassment claim settled (£234,000)
