Paula Kelly

Abuse, Neglect and Safeguarding

Paula is building a specialist practice representing victims and survivors of abuse (including sexual, physical, emotional and domestic abuse, and coercive and controlling behaviour) and neglect in claims against perpetrators, public authorities, private organisations and other bodies. She was supervised by Justin Levinson and assisted him in several cases as a pupil.

She regularly appears in hearings and provides advice on liability, quantum and case strategy for claims in negligence, violations of human rights, and for data breaches putting individuals at risk of further harm. She has a particular interest in online, image-based and technology-enabled abuse and was a Judicial Assistant to Mrs Justice Thornton in the case of FGX v Gaunt [2023] EWHC 419 (KB), the first civil judgment for image-based sexual abuse in England and Wales.

Paula also welcomes instructions in inquests concerning deaths in the context of domestic and/or sexual abuse.

Paula’s experience includes acting and assisting in:

• An ongoing appeal that will consider where the burden of proof lies in respect of consent in civil claims for sexual abuse, due to be heard by the Court of Appeal in December 2026 (led by Edward Kemp KC).
• Advising a domestic abuse support service to process the data of service users securely and lawfully to mitigate risks of further harm to women and children who had experienced abuse.
• A successful claim arising out of serious sexual abuse of a patient by a doctor in a hospital ward.
• Claims by children against local authorities for unlawful delays in removing them from neglectful or abusive living situations and subsequent delays in them achieving permanency through fostering or adoption.
• A successful action by a victim of domestic abuse whose address was disclosed to her abusive former partner by a local authority, resulting in threats of violence against her and her children. Awarded a five-figure sum.
• A settlement with a local authority on behalf of a young woman subjected to childhood sexual exploitation and serious sexual assault by several perpetrators.
• Claims against schools, healthcare trusts, and the Scouts and the settlement scheme for the victims of the mortuary abuser, David Fuller.