Karen's practice is focused on the area of professional negligence defense. She is the Assistant Chair of Harper Grey’s Health Law Group and a member of the Administrative Law Practice Group. Before joining Harper Grey Karen practiced in Toronto, Ontario with the firm of McCarthy Tétrault.

Karen regularly presents to medical doctors, residents, and medical office assistants regarding medical-legal and ethical issues and participates as a supervising lawyer at the LSLAP legal aid clinic in East Vancouver. She has judged first year moots at the University of Toronto, Osgoode Hall Law School, and at the University of British Columbia. While practising in Ontario, Karen was an instructor for the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admission Course.

Representative Client Work

• Successfully representing the Plaintiff in an accounting negligence trial concerning the preparation and filing of corporate income tax returns.
• Appearing as counsel in a successful appeal of the decision of a Supreme Court judge allowing the joinder of professional Defendants outside the applicable limitation period.
• Defending two physicians, a cardiologist and a general practitioner, in a medical negligence action concerning the treatment of a cardiac arrhythmia and a physician’s duty to provide follow-up care. The action was dismissed following a four week trial.

Professional & Civic Activities

• Member, Canadian Bar Association,
• Member, Vancouver Bar Association
• Member, Law Society of British Columbia
• Member, Law Society of Upper Canada
• Member, Medical-Legal Society of British Columbia
• Past Chair, Canadian Bar Association Health Law Section
• Lifetime Member of West Coast LEAF, British Columbia’s branch of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund.

Background

Karen was born in Vancouver. She is an avid runner, cyclist and paddler (kayak) and has completed the Vancouver International Marathon. Karen enjoys music and theatre. In 2003, she participated in the joint fundraising production of Nicola Gogol’s “The Government Inspector” presented by the Arts Club Theatre and Touchstone Theatre at the Stanley Theatre.