Catriona Rubens
Senior associate solicitor
Catriona Rubens is a senior associate solicitor in the abuse team.
Catriona is a senior associate solicitorworking in the abuse team with Alison Millar.
She specialises in abuse and human rights claims, and has particular expertise representing clients with learning disabilities and/or autism in cases relating to poor care and treatment, restrictive practices, and unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Catriona was trustworthy and reliable, and I just wanted to highlight how she has gone above and beyond for me.
Client of Catriona
Legal expertise
Some of Catriona’s key cases at Leigh Day include:
- Securing £540,000 compensation for a survivor of non-recent abuse at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School.
- Obtaining compensation for a client who was sexually assaulted in a mental health hospital.
- Representing a disabled athlete in a successful selection challenge for the Paralympics.
Catriona has a specialist interest in representing people who have been sexually assaulted in healthcare settings and brings cases on behalf of women who suffered sexual abuse in the context of therapy. She is a panel member of the Centre for Women’s Justice.
Catriona regularly acts on human rights cases involving the use of restraint and seclusion against children with special educational needs or autism. She is a legal panel member for the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, and a member of the Reducing Restrictive Interventions and Safeguarding Children (RRISC) group.
Catriona is often instructed by the Child Migrants Trust and acted on their successful challenge to the UK government’s failure to implement a redress scheme following the 2018 IICSA report.
Prior to qualification, Catriona worked at several different human rights NGOs, including Liberty and Advocates for International Development, and a Parisian law firm. She holds a dual degree in English and French law from King’s College London and the Sorbonne, Paris.
Read Catriona's blogs
- Winterbourne View Abuse Scandal 10 years on 29.6.21
- CQC Report into use of restrictive practices in care of learning disabled, autistic and mentally ill patients 22.10.20
- The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse Truth Project into abuse in sport 14.7.20
Catriona in the news
- Revealed: Scandal of 1,374 hospital sex attacks – and just 26 charges Independent 18.2.24
- Care commissioners settle claim brought by man who suffered “regime of abuse” at Devon care home Local Government Lawyer 3.11.23
- Abused care home resident secures ‘landmark’ settlement of legal claim Independent 1.11.23
- Leigh Day secures £75,000 settlement for abuse survivor Solicitors Journal 21.12.22
- Payout of £75,000 over child abuse claim at Nottingham home BBC News 21.12.22
Abuse in healthcare FAQs
Read our FAQs about legal claims in healthcare settings
What our clients say
Not only did I receive the highest levels of professional legal support and advice, but also understanding, excellent communications and most welcoming of all compassion.
Client of Catriona
Blogs and news
Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery report welcomed by abuse lawyers
Lawyers working on behalf of medical staff who have experienced sexual abuse in the healthcare workplace welcomed the focus given to the issue nationally this week.
Survivor of sexual and physical abuse at Nazareth House, Nottingham, awarded £75,000 in legal claim
A woman has been given £75,000 by the Sisters of Nazareth, a Catholic Order responsible for running Nazareth House Children’s Home, Lenton, Nottingham, in a settlement for a legal claim for alleged abuse she suffered as a child at the Home in the 1970s and 1980s.
Compensation secured for survivor of child abuse in Nottinghamshire foster care
Our client, Jay, has received £60,000 and an apology from the local authority after settling a civil claim for the abuse he experienced as a child in care of Nottinghamshire County Council.