Gemma practises in public and administrative law. She accepts briefs to appear and advise.
Gemma has experience appearing and advising in relation to judicial review and appeals, including:
Gemma has appeared regularly at all Victorian Courts, VCAT, the AAT and the Mental Health Tribunal. Cases in which Gemma has appeared include:
- Commissions and inquiries, including the Yoorook Justice Commission (led by Richard Knowles KC, with Helen Tiplady);
- Coronial inquests, including the Inquest into deaths at St Basil's Homes for the Aged (unled, on behalf of 61 family members);
- Sexual harassment and discrimination matters, including ZBL v Olivo [2021] VCAT 850;
- Residential tenancy hearings at VCAT, including RFY v ACV [2021] VCAT 865 (led by Ron Merkel KC);
- National Disability Insurance Scheme matters at the AAT, including Ewin and National Disability Insurance Agency [2018] AATA 4726;
- Centrelink appeals at the AAT, including Miller; Secretary, Department of Social Services [2019] AATA 2315;
- Reviews under the CMI Act in the Supreme and County Courts, including Re KP [2019] VSC 7;
- Interlocutory applications, such as suppression order and stay applications, including GHJ v Secretary to the Department of Justice and Community Safety [2019] VSC 89;
- Matters involving the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act;
- Mental Health Tribunal hearings, including TUQ [2018] VMHT 13;
- WWCC matters at VCAT, including UPY v Secretary to the Department of Justice and Regulation [2018] VCAT 1424;
- Guardianship and administration order matters at VCAT, including THD (Guardianship) [2020] VCAT 677;
- Complex infringements matters, including Victoria Police v Gebrehiwot [2019] VMC012; and
- Child support matters.
Gemma has a busy advisory practice. She regularly advises on statutory interpretation, Coroners Court matters, the operation of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights, and applications for suppression and anonymisation orders.
Gemma holds an Australian Government baseline security clearance.
Prior to coming to the Bar Gemma was an Associate Public Defender (Civil Justice) in Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Chambers, and a senior lawyer in VLA’s Civil Justice team.
Gemma was awarded the Debbie Mortimer SC Award in 2023 for her pro bono work. She was highly commended by the Law Institute of Victoria for the Paul Baker Award for Human Rights of Administrative Law in 2019.
Gemma is a current member of the Victorian Bar Council, and Vice President of Liberty Victoria. She is the Assistant Honorary Secretary of the Commercial Bar Association, and was the Assistant Secretary of the Women Barristers Association from 2022-23.
Gemma read with Elizabeth Bennett SC and her senior mentor was the Honourable Justice Claire Harris.