Gemma practises in the Court of Protection, regularly appearing on behalf of P instructed by litigation friends including the Official Solicitor, family members, local authorities, and ICBs. She has experience representing at mediations during Court of Protection proceedings, and has mediated care-related disputes.

Gemma co-authors the Court of Protection Dictionary and has co-authored the Court of Protection updates for LAG. She regularly provides training to social workers and others on the Mental Capacity Act and the inherent jurisdiction for vulnerable adults.

Gemma has expertise in contact disputes, cases with complex overlapping matters of contact and engaging in sexual relations, Ps transitioning from children to adult services, and a developing practice in medical treatment cases. She has cross-examined capacity experts, including in complex matters regarding capacity to engage in sexual relations, as well as witness handling of a range of expert and non-expert witnesses in the Court of Protection and other courts.

Gemma is a mediator and practising barrister. She has a holistic approach to dispute resolution, combining her academic knowledge from her LLM Masters in Human Rights & Conflict Resolution with her practical legal experience.

Gemma trained with, and is now a member of, the Society of Mediators and has participated in their Free Mediation Project. She has mediated disputes related to community care/Court of Protection adjacent issues through chambers, as well as mediating pro bono in family and neighbour disputes. Before being called to the Bar, Gemma worked with charitable and non-profit organisations including in an occupied territory and, separately, with the UNHCR.

Gemma has extensive experience of negotiations in court proceedings, chairing round-table meetings, and facilitating productive discussions between parties. She has practised in many different courts and across a wide range of legal issues, including: mental capacity law, mental health law, inquests, public law, social security, criminal law, employment law, housing, actions against public bodies, and human rights law. She has experience of independent investigations and engaging participants in difficult dialogues. Now a specialist in the unique jurisdiction of the Court of Protection, which can involve more time negotiating than in court, Gemma is acutely aware that effective discussions can be the key to resolving protracted disputes. Having also represented parties at mediation, she appreciates the perspectives of individuals approaching alternative dispute resolution and has seen the benefits of mediated settlements from all sides.

Gemma brings her experience as a practising barrister to her role as a mediator whilst maintaining neutrality and helping participants through the process. She is confident in the benefits of mediation for a wide array of legal issues and accepts instructions to facilitate discussions across many disputes.
 

Gemma accepts instructions in matters arising under the Mental Health Act 1983. She was instructed as junior counsel to Sophy Miles and Aswini Weereratne QC by Mind in their intervention in the Supreme Court in Welsh Ministers v PJ [2018] UKSC 66. 

Gemma has represented bereaved families at inquests, in particular where there are issues around mental health services in the community, or the deceased was deprived of their liberty in hospital, prison, or police custody. Gemma has experience cross-examining expert witnesses, including consultant psychiatrists, social workers, and police officers.

Gemma has extensive experience in the field of social welfare law, having spent five years advising clients on complex benefits claims, representing at benefit appeals in First-tier Tribunals and the Upper Tribunal, and providing training to Free Representation Unit volunteers. She sits a fee-paid (part-time) First-tier Tribunal judge in the Social Entitlement Chamber.