Selena Plowden KC

Call 1991 Silk 2020

‘Selena is so sharp, she cuts right to the heart of matters and is excellent with medical experts and clients alike. She is willing to take on a challenge and does so with passion and gusto. She is tireless in pursuit of the claim and unstinting in her efforts.’

For enquiries please contact

Caroline Evans
Senior Practice Manager - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Olive Kavanagh
Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare) and Costs & Litigation Funding
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Charlie Georgeson
Assistant Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Employment & Discrimination, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare), Costs & Litigation Funding
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

‘Selena is so sharp, she cuts right to the heart of matters and is excellent with medical experts and clients alike. She is willing to take on a challenge and does so with passion and gusto. She is tireless in pursuit of the claim and unstinting in her efforts.’


Legal 500 2023

"It is very difficult to put into words how brilliant Selena is. She is sharp, thorough, and wonderful with clients. Her approach to complex cases is meticulous. She is brave and imaginative."


Chambers & Partners UK 2023

"Selena is a super brain. She has a great ability to organise, analyse and distill the essence from huge quantities of material. She never misses an important point in the evidence."


Legal 500 2022

"She brings an exceptional level of attention to detail and understanding to medically difficult cases."


Chambers UK 2021

"Tactically brilliant, great with clients, and tough but fair with opposition."


Legal 500 2021

"She has a tremendous grasp of complex clinical negligence cases."


Legal 500 2020

"Just phenomenal: she has the attention to detail and the client care skills, and is very supportive of solicitors."


Chambers UK 2020

  • WCWF (steering committee Western Circuit Womens’ Forum)
  • Legal Assessor MPTS/ GMC (2010-2015)
  • Tribunal Judge (Mental Health) (2007- date)
  • Senior Lecturer Inns of Court School of Law (1998-2002)

  • Diploma in Law, City University
  • BA Hons, English, London

  • Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA)

Selena Plowden KC specialises in complex and high value clinical negligence and personal injury cases.

She has expertise in dealing with particularly sensitive and legally complex issues such as those arising from the treatment of mental illness; the provision of public health services; the funding of health and social care in the community; management of the interface between different health services; intimate birth and brain injuries.

Selena is ranked by Legal 500 as a First Tier Silk:

Selena is a super brain. She has a great ability to organise, analyse and distil the essence from huge quantities of material. She never misses an important point in the evidence.‘ She is ‘willing to tackle the novel and the challenging, with unrivalled commitment and insight‘; ‘she brings with her such experience and such tenacity that if she’s on your case you feel confident in taking it forward‘. [2022]

And by Chambers UK as a Band 1 Silk:

“Absolutely excellent – she really stands out for her acumen and expertise in clinical negligence cases.” “She’s truly meticulous and incredibly sharp.” “Completely dedicated to her clients, approachable, personable and always goes the extra mile.” [2022]

As a junior, Selena also represented clinicians before disciplinary tribunals and for a time she sat as a Legal Assessor for the GMC. She has sat part time as a Judge on Mental Health Tribunals since 2007 and continues to do so.

Selena was shortlisted for ‘Clinical Negligence Silk of the Year’ at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022, is listed as a “Star individual” by Chambers and Partners and heads the team shortlisted in the category Clinical Negligence Set of the Year at The Legal 500 Awards 2024.

Expertise

Selena’s caseload covers a wide spectrum of injuries including:

  • patients with catastrophic brain injuries following haemorrhage, stroke & anaesthetic injuries;
  • cerebral palsy and developmental amnesia following obstetric mis-management;
  • spinal injuries including paraplegia & cauda equina syndrome;
  • loss of hearing and loss of vision;
  • maternal birth trauma;
  • failure to manage mental health;
  • delayed diagnosis of cancer.

Featured Clinical Negligence cases


Lewis - Ranwell v G4S Health Service & Others [2022] EWHC 1213

Successfully defeated strike out applications before Garnham J. Represented the Claimant who was acquitted of 3 counts of murder on grounds of insanity and brings claims against the police and 3 healthcare providers for failing to detain him under the Mental Health Act.


MH v NHS 111 & GP [2021]

High value damages achieved for claimant with CES, spinal cord injuries.


MPH v NHS Trust [2021]

Acted for young mother with loss of sight due to delayed treatment of sinus thrombosis.


XX v SSFH & NHS Commissioning [2021]

Achieved high value settlement for patient with brain and spinal cord injuries arising out of provision of public health screening services.


XY v NBT [2021]

Successful settlement ofclaim involving developing points of law re damages for dying claimant following delayed diagnosis of cancer.


OG v 3 Trusts [2021] and MP v AWP Trust [2021]

Settlement for widows in two cases against NHS Trusts for failing to prevent suicide of their husbands.


AC v NHS Trust [2020]

High value settlement for young person with cerebral palsy arising from obstetric delays.


EXX v NHS Trust [2020]

High value settlement for young person with developmental amnesia and deafness after obstetric delays.


GW v A GP [2019]

Represented the family of a mother who died following delayed diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer.


GC v A GP [2019]

Represented the Claimant who had complete loss of sight caused by dehydration. Negotiated substantial settlement at RTM.


B v An NHST [2019]

Represented mother at Inquest and in successful civil proceedings for the loss of her child and maternal injuries following labour at a midwifery led unit. Involved issues of consent and complex obstetric & neonatology evidence.


S & H v Cardiff Vale University HB [2018]

Transplant surgery: Successfully represented the families of two men who died as a result of inadequate vetting of organs from the same donor.

Selena continues to undertake fatal accident and personal injury work, particularly where it involves complex medical or legal issues.

Recent cases involve acquired brain injury following a road traffic accident, in an already psychiatrically compromised child; and a claim for brain injuries in a previously high earning individual with complex needs.

Selena regularly appears at Inquests on behalf of families, NHS and commercial healthcare providers, individual clinicians and other commercial organisations.

Recent cases involve fatalities arising out of the management of a haematological condition, cardiac surgery, placement of a gastrostomy tube, electrocution and drug abuse.

For enquiries please contact

Caroline Evans
Senior Practice Manager - Civil
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Olive Kavanagh
Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare) and Costs & Litigation Funding
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Charlie Georgeson
Assistant Practice Manager - Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, Employment & Discrimination, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare), Costs & Litigation Funding
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

‘Selena is so sharp, she cuts right to the heart of matters and is excellent with medical experts and clients alike. She is willing to take on a challenge and does so with passion and gusto. She is tireless in pursuit of the claim and unstinting in her efforts.’


Legal 500 2023

"It is very difficult to put into words how brilliant Selena is. She is sharp, thorough, and wonderful with clients. Her approach to complex cases is meticulous. She is brave and imaginative."


Chambers & Partners UK 2023

"Selena is a super brain. She has a great ability to organise, analyse and distill the essence from huge quantities of material. She never misses an important point in the evidence."


Legal 500 2022

"She brings an exceptional level of attention to detail and understanding to medically difficult cases."


Chambers UK 2021

"Tactically brilliant, great with clients, and tough but fair with opposition."


Legal 500 2021

"She has a tremendous grasp of complex clinical negligence cases."


Legal 500 2020

"Just phenomenal: she has the attention to detail and the client care skills, and is very supportive of solicitors."


Chambers UK 2020

  • WCWF (steering committee Western Circuit Womens’ Forum)
  • Legal Assessor MPTS/ GMC (2010-2015)
  • Tribunal Judge (Mental Health) (2007- date)
  • Senior Lecturer Inns of Court School of Law (1998-2002)

  • Diploma in Law, City University
  • BA Hons, English, London

  • Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
  • Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA)

For help or advice please call 0117 930 9000 or complete the form below.

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