Profile description
Gemma is an experienced family law barrister and is regularly instructed in all aspects of family law.
Gemma is instructed in public and private law children cases in the County Court and High Court and is particularly skilled at dealing with the heightened emotions such cases may cause. Gemma acts for parents, other family members, NYAS, CAFCASS and Local Authorities.
Gemma represents children in complex residence and contact proceedings where children have been made party to the proceedings.
Gemma has advised on the impact of immigration status in the context of family proceedings and appeared in the High Court on this issue.
Gemma advises and appears in family finance and divorce cases.
Gemma undertakes child abduction work, involving the use of the 1980 Hague Convention, Brussels II Revised regulation and the UK-Pakistan Judicial protocol. Gemma’s knowledge of the law and practices of many jurisdictions from her extradition practice gives her a particular edge in this field.
Gemma has provided a report on Rwandan law for a case in the Family Division.
Care proceedings and Adoption
Gemma has been engaged in cases of neglect, non-accidental injury (including multiple injuries and “baby shaking”) and allegations of sexual abuse. Gemma represents both Local Authorities and parents.
Gemma also represents police authorities who are subject to disclosure requests by the family court.
Gemma is an experienced extradition barrister and has been involved in some of the most important cases in recent years. She frequently appears in the High Court on matters of complexity.
Since 2006, Gemma has been instructed as junior counsel for Rwanda in ongoing extradition proceedings where five men are sought so that they may be prosecuted for genocide and crimes against humanity. This case has involved many novel issues of law and fact. Gemma has recently appeared in the Supreme Court on an interlocutory point as junior counsel on behalf of Rwanda where the Applicant requested persons argued that reverse closed material procedure could be deployed.
Gemma has appeared in numerous cases where a prima facie case must be shown and is being actively contested. Gemma often advises on the sufficiency of a request prior to any arrest.
Gemma has deployed various methods in representing those resisting extradition such as utilising FOI requests from UK authorities and Interpol, investigations in the requested countries and identifying novel legal argument. In one case, Gemma successfully argued a common law basis for the court hearing pivotal defence witness evidence via Skype where they would not have otherwise been able to testify. This led to a change in statute.
Gemma is skilled at liaising with foreign authorities and working with them to further their case.
Gemma has represented the Crown in a number of complex Bennett style abuse cases where it has been alleged that the UK authorities have colluded in the illegal extradition of defendants to face trial.
