Helen Morland

Helen is a partner in the firm having joined the team at Hay & Kilner upon qualification in 2006. She has a varied and complex caseload with significant expertise in cases involving cerebral palsy, brain & spinal injury, and cancer.

Experience

Helen is a dedicated claimant Clinical Negligence Partner with over 20 years' experience in handling complex clinical negligence claims with significant expertise in cerebral palsy, brain and spinal injury and surgical error. She has a proven track record of advocating for claimants, achieving favourable outcomes and securing significant damages for her clients. She has strong negotiation skills, an in depth understanding of medical negligence law and a commitment to excellent client care.

Recent cases

• Instructed on a matter involving a minor where a Hospital Trust failed to appropriately diagnose necrotising fasciitis. X has suffered debilitating injuries including muscle and skin loss ; has undergone 20 operative procedures related to skin breakdown requiring grafting; suffered repeat infections and significant psychiatric damage. X will require further multiple operations until they reach maturity. The claim is valued at £8 million.

• Instructed on a fatal matter where X was admitted to a Hospital following a stroke and died shortly afterwards. With the support of expert evidence from a Neurologist, Neurosurgeon and Intensivist in Medicine it was successfully alleged that X suffered the effects of failing to undertake emergency surgery to decompress the brain and maintain the deceased's airway. Sadly, X died as a consequence of the defendant’s failings which was preventable. The claim settled for damages in excess of £300k.

• Instructed by X who was admitted to a Hospital Trust via Accident and Emergency following a serious motorcycle accident. X sustained multiple open and closed fractures on both legs and underwent emergency left femur fixation and left ankle surgery. It is alleged that post surgery the Hospital Trust failed to suspect and provide treatment for compartment syndrome resulting in an amputation of the lower leg. Damages will be significant as X has been unable to return to employment and will require suitable accommodation and care for life.

• Helen led a successfully contested trial in the High Court where she acted for a child who had suffered a spinal cord injury as a consequence of a failure to diagnose a malignant spinal tumour. Judgment was found in favour of her client securing damages in excess of £1 million.

• Settled a claim on behalf of a child with cerebral palsy, where investigations concluded that their injury was caused by negligence at the time of birth. The damages awarded were in excess of £5 million, and will ensure that the child has appropriate care and access to medical therapies for the rest of their life.

Awards, memberships & accolades

Helen is noted in her field in The Legal 500 and described in its 2023 and 2024 rankings as a ‘compassionate lawyer,’ a ‘highly competent claimant lawyer’ and ‘a top lawyer who is also kind, supportive and sympathetic’. She is a Band 2 ranked individual in Chambers & Partners in which her experience in cauda equina cases is noted and is reported as being ‘stellar’ and ‘professional but compassionate’. She was also delighted to be listed in the top 10 legal powerhouses in the field of Clinical Negligence in the North East in 2024 by Business Today.

Helen has received Law Society accreditation to the clinical negligence panel which recognises her expertise in this field. She is a committee member of the North of England Medico-Legal Society Council. She is also a LGBTIQ ally at Hay & Kilner which provides internal support at the firm.

Helen graduated with a degree in Dance from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds in 1998. She then completed the General Diploma in Law at Northumbria University and obtained a degree in Law in 2003.

Her qualification date is 1 September 2006.

Outside of the office

Helen loves to potter round her garden and has become a keen gardener. She also loves to do yoga, keep fit in the gym, and enjoys skiing with her 6 year old daughter during the winter. In her previous life she was a backing dancer for PJ and Duncan on Top of the Pops!