Karen Sullivan

Karen Sullivan is a Senior Paralegal in our Court of Protection Department, specialising in Property and Affairs. She is based in our Manchester office.

Professional Biography

Karen graduated with a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Manchester in 1992, followed by an MA in History from the University of York in 1997. She qualified as a primary school teacher in 1997, specialising in early years education, with a particular interest in special educational needs. Her career spanned 21 years in education, where she worked as a classroom teacher, Inclusion Manager, and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Advisor, supporting vulnerable children with complex needs and disabilities and their families. This experience laid the foundation for her passion for advocating for those who face societal barriers.

Karen transitioned to a legal career in 2018, successfully completing a two-year CILEX Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship, in private practice, in the Court of Protection, gaining her a Level 3 qualification in Law and Practice in 2021. She is now an Advanced Paralegal  and has additional qualifications in early childhood education and special educational needs. Karen is currently furthering her legal knowledge and expertise by pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Law with the College of Legal Practice.

Karen’s career in the Court of Protection spans both private and public sectors, providing her with a unique perspective on the needs of protected parties. In her past work within the public sector, she has managed a large, complex caseloads of vulnerable adults with diverse needs, including those residing in residential, nursing care homes, extra care facilities, along with clients who lived independently in the community. Her responsibilities included benefit administration, financial management, budgeting, liaising with professionals, completing OPG reports (Office of the Public Guardian reports that detail how a protected person’s finances have been managed) and preparing Court of Protection applications. She also oversaw the sale of properties, including working with estate agents, banking organisations and heir hunters to manage deceased clients' estates. In some cases, Karen was involved in registering the client’s death, making funeral arrangements and working closely alongside bereaved families.

In private practice, Karen worked directly with Personal Injury teams to manage multi-million-pound settlements for clients. Her tasks included setting up and administering Personal Injury Trusts, preparing and analysing financial data for annual OPG reports, and attending meetings with families and financial advisors to ensure the efficient management of fund by planning for the upcoming year. She also has extensive experience mentoring colleagues and delivering training on disability inclusion and equal opportunities.

Karen is highly experienced in advocating for protected parties under the Court of Protection, with a strong focus on the day-to-day implementation and consideration of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its core principles. Karen brings a unique combination of experience from both the public and private sectors, giving her valuable insight into the intricacies of Court of Protection work. She is committed to advocating for vulnerable individuals who cannot manage their own finances, working to improve their quality of life and maximise their independence whilst providing high quality client care.

Since joining Simpson Millar, Karen’s day-to-day responsibilities focus on setting up personal injury trusts for clients wishing to ensure that compensation awards from personal injury settlements are disregarded for DWP assessments (assessments conducted by the Department for Work and Pensions to determine eligibility for benefits and financial support) to maximise their income and quality of life. Karen explains to clients what is involved in setting up personal injury trusts and how they work in practice, responding promptly to client’s queries and requests for further information. Karen also assists our Solicitors with managing personal injury trusts where Simpson Millar Trust Corporation acts as a Trustee. Karen works in close and effective partnership with clients, financial advisors, tax consultants and other professionals to ensure the clients’ needs are met and their interests are safeguarded. Her tasks include drafting legal documents, reviewing and managing case files, and conducting legal research. She also updates schedules of income and expenditure, and reviews files annually to support the Solicitors in preparing for annual review meetings with clients, family members and care coordinators. She Karen is committed to advocating for vulnerable individuals, ensuring their voices are heard and their best interests are always prioritised.