Profile

Katie is a partner based in Kennedys’ Birmingham office. She qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2004.

She leads the private healthcare team in Birmingham dealing with medical malpractice claims on behalf of consultants, physiotherapists, dentists, private hospitals and remote radiology providers. She is instructed by a number of medical malpractice insurers.

She has previously represented NHS Resolution and, for a number of years, represented various Medical Protection Society members involving both general and private practice.

She advises on a wide variety of claims involving high value neurological injuries, delay in diagnosis, cases involving remote reporting of radiology and ECGs, and claims involving numerous elective surgical procedures.

She is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2004
Katie Tonks is very experienced, reliable, sensible and with good judgement.

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Clinical negligence: defendant (West Midlands)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2024
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Personal injury and clinical negligence: defendant (West Midlands)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2023
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Clinical negligence: defendant (West Midlands)'
    "Katie Tonks is very experienced, reliable, sensible and with good judgement."
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Associate to watch for 'Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    "Market sources say: "She has good instincts and is very talented."
    Chambers UK 2020
  • Associate to watch for 'Clinical Negligence: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    Chambers UK 2019
  • A Notable Practitioner (Associate to Watch) for ‘Clinical negligence: mainly defendant (UK-wide)’
    “Senior associate Katie Tonks handles a wide range of clinical negligence claims including serious neurological and gynaecological issues. Commentators praise her as a ‘good and sensible’ lawyer who is a ‘very sound case handler.’”
    Chambers UK 2018
  • Katie was commended for her “able, proficient and competent handling of a very complex technical medical negligence case.”
    Chambers UK 2015

Work highlights

  • Successfully defended gynaecological claim at trial concerning the alleged negligent performance of a myomectomy procedure.
  • Discontinuance of a claim during trial in a case against a GP for prescribing penicillin to a patient who was alleged to have been allergic to penicillin and subsequently died.