Masters of the Bench

Karen was born in Cape Town and brought up in Kent, where she attended local state primary and secondary schools before studying history at the University of Liverpool and taking the Graduate Diploma in Law at City University. Karen was a Harmsworth Scholar.

Called in 1995, Karen practised from 2000 at 11KBW, focusing on public law, human rights, public international law and information law, with particular specialisms in armed conflict and national security. Karen was a member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s A Panel, the Attorney General's A Panel and the Welsh local authorities’ panel. She took silk in 2014.

Karen was appointed a High Court Judge (Queen’s Bench Division) in 2019, having served as a Deputy High Court Judge since 2016. Karen is the Administrative Court Liaison Judge for Wales, the Midlands and Western Circuits.

Karen is married to Alex Glassbrook (also a Middle Templar) and they have two sons.