Kim Harrison

Get to know Kim

I have over 15 years’ experience in personal injury law, having qualified as a solicitor in 2005.

Although my background lies within all types of personal injury cases, I have for many years specialised in two areas: representing victims and survivors of abuse and assault, both recent and non-recent, adults and children, and also acting in public inquiries. Some of my cases can also involve complex human rights issues and I am also a human rights specialist as well as acting for families at inquests and associated Human Rights Act claims. My specialist Public Inquiry work includes representing clients at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

My civil work involves representing victims and survivors of abuse against organisations such as the Catholic and Anglican Church, Scouts, schools, hospitals, sporting organisations and clubs, taxi firms, the Ministry of Defence and social services. This includes the highly complex and specialist ‘failure to protect’ claims acting for clients against the local authority in cases where it is alleged clients should have been taken into care earlier than they in fact were, and as a result have suffered additional and unnecessary abuse, violence and neglect in the familial home, or clients who have been abused in the care system.

I have represented many clients in the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), advocating for reforms to the law to assist victims and survivors including in the Nottinghamshire Children’s Homes Investigation, the Westminster Investigation, the Residential Schools Investigation, the Janner Investigation, the Lambeth Investigation, the Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks Investigation, the Religious Organisations Investigation and I was APIL’s legal representative in the Accountability and Reparations Phase Two Investigation. I have also acted in some high profile inquests.

Career highlights

IICSA has been a particular career highlight as I have had the privilege of representing and advocating for a changes in the law to assist victims and survivors of abuse.

I have been successful in a groundbreaking case against the MOD where a client recovered damages for breach of his human rights following a serious sexual assault by Libyan trainee soldiers who were at MOD barracks training and escaped seriously sexually assaulting a number of victims.

I have represented a large number of football abuse survivors in civil cases against a number of football clubs including Crew Alexandra FC, Stoke City FC and through the MCFC survivors redress scheme.

I have also represented the victims of Max Clifford in civil claims against him/his estate.

I represented a family in an Article 2 Inquest arising out of the brutal murder of their father by a man released on life licence. The Inquest discussed the role of the parole board in the supervision and monitoring of the offender prior to the death and attracted significant media interest.

Recognition

I’m accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as a Senior Litigator.

I’ve also been recognised in the independent legal guide, the Legal 500 for the past several years. In the most recent addition I was recognised as a 'Leading Individuals' by the publication.

Previous editions have stated: “Kim Harrison is incredibly committed to her clients and fights tirelessly in their corner.” and “Kim Harrison is a national leader in claims against public authorities. She is hugely compassionate and enables clients to feel at ease.” Under the category of Civil Liberties and

Human Rights it states: “Kim Harrison, the team is also experienced in undertaking claims against public authorities and is particularly skilled in acting for victims of abuse.”

The 2022 edition of the independent guide, Chambers and Partners has ranked me as a band 2 lawyer and states: "Kim Harrison specialises in acting for victims and survivors of abuse in claims against organisations such as schools, social services and hospitals. She is also experienced in associated human rights issues. Kim explained everything thoroughly and was on hand if I had any questions or concerns."

I was also honoured to have won the Claimant Lawyer of the Year at the Personal Injury Awards 2021.

The extra mile

As an expert on abuse law, human rights and inquiry and inquest work, I'm frequently asked to speak on legal issues and has given many interviews to the local and national media. I’ve appeared on BBC Breakfast, the Daily Politics show, Radio 4 and Newsnight, and a number of my cases have also appeared in the local and national press.

I am a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and an Executive Committee member of APIL, an Executive Committee member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL) and a member of the Law Society. I am also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Personal Injury Law (JPIL).