Gemma Bower

Public Law Children

Gemma regularly accepts instructions in public law matters acting for Local Authorities, parents, relatives and Guardians. She has also represented children who are of the age and understanding to merit separate representation and for a party joined as an intervener. Her past experience in the criminal courts gives her a particular capacity to deal with family cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury, domestic violence (including sexual abuse), FII or any matters where findings of fact are sought. She is well placed to deal with the emotions that such matters generally invoke.

Gemmas practice includes regular interim and final hearings in respect of care proceedings (such final hearings including Placement Orders).  Gemma also undertakes work of an emergency nature, such as Emergency Protections Orders and section 34(4) Children Act 1989 orders. Gemma has successful argued for and against the making of such orders on numerous occasions.

Gemma is used to managing vast quantities of paper-work and tends to work almost entirely electronically. 

Examples of cases Gemma has been involved in include:

• FII/ NAI case: Gemma represented a local authority in a complex matter involving long standing issues of FII, spanning a number of years involving several children. It also involved NAI allegations in respect of the youngest child and serious domestic abuse between the parents and complicated family dynamics. The case had multi experts, including a very long and complex FII report by a well-known paediatrician. The bundle consisted of over 10,000 pages. She was instructed to draft a complicated schedule of findings sought and achieved all findings as sought. The fact find took place over a number of weeks and evidence was heard from a number of treating clinicians, experts instructed in the proceedings and a number of family members and friends of the family. Complex medical issues arose as part of the proceedings.
• Multiple injuries cases:  Gemma represented a local authority in a complex multi fracture case involving a very young baby. This was referred for a serious case review. At one point the pool of potential perpetrators involved not just the parents but also the grandparents on each side of the family together with an aunt. All findings sought against the parents were made. This case involved a number of failings in child protection (as found proven by the court) hence why it was referred to a serious case review. There were complicated matters of alleged family collusion together with some anomalies in blood test results, which required detailed questioning of the many experts involved as to whether or not the child was more susceptible to fracturing for organic reasons.  The trial bundles were around 20,000 pages with a significant number of witnesses during a 19-day fact find hearing. Managing the sheer amount of evidence, including extensive telephone records, as sole Counsel for the local authority was immense. 
• Mental health issues in care proceedings: Gemma was involved in a case where there were a number of children, two mothers and one father and numerous contested allegations surrounding NAI. The client  Gemma represented had a history of significant mental health issues. There were a number of medical experts involved.   Gemma successfully managed to have the client removed from the pool of potential perpetrators and thereafter against the recommendation of the local authority, convinced the court to place the clients child back in her care.

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Private law children

Gemma has practiced in the field of private children for over 14 years. Her workload includes that of all types of Children Act 1989 orders including Child Arrangement Orders, removal from jurisdiction, change of name and parental responsibility disputes. Gemma accepts instructions on behalf of mothers, fathers, grandparents, other relatives and children (either directly or via their Guardian). Gemma has a particular skill of working with clients where emotions are running high and is able to ensure clients feel at ease and is known for her meticulous preparation and approachable manner. In court she is a tough negotiator and tenacious advocate.

Gemma's experience includes:

• Successfully acting on behalf of both applicants and respondents in leave to remove from the jurisdiction;
• Successfully acting for parents and Rule 16(4) guardians in multiple day fact find hearings including domestic abuse, sexual abuse and physical harm allegations
• Successfully acting in cases involved parental alienation;
• Successfully represented a parent seeking to avoid a change of living arrangements following a finding of parental alienation;
• Successfully acting on behalf of a parent in a private law matter involving international matters namely whether or not the father was applying for a section 8 order to further his prospects of immigration status or not. The social worker section 7 author took the firm view he was making the application for immigration purposes and Gemma  had the uphill struggle of persuading the court this was not the case and succeeded in such argument.

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Injunctions

Gemma is a barrister who deals with emergency injunctions and occupation orders. She is well placed to deal with the emotions that such matters generally invoke.

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A copy of Gemma's privacy policy can be found here.

Gemma Bower is regulated by the Bar Standards Board, holds professional indemnity insurance with Bar Mutual and is VAT registered.