“We would just like to thank Gemma for the work that she did for us in regards to our family court proceedings. She handled the work very professionally and was always very prompt with replies to any of our questions. Gemma, you are a credit to your company and we would highly recommend you to anybody looking for your services. “
Experienced Lawyer and Director Gemma Sparks is head of our children team.
Gemma is passionate about family law and acting on behalf of clients in areas of private law children and domestic abuse. Before joining the Family Law Company in 2009, Gemma had worked within the legal profession since 2004 working full time gaining experience in civil litigation whilst studying towards her legal qualification.
She can call on her wide legal knowledge and experience in all aspects of family law when supporting clients.
Her work involves supporting clients with issues such as:
• Disputes regarding children contact and arrangements for their care following relationship breakdowns
• Relocation of children and their families within the UK and abroad
• Cases where domestic abuse has been alleged that may need fact finding hearings and/or orders for protection
• Concerns around parental alienation
• Supporting parents where there are disagreements about which school a child should attend
Gemma has a particular interest in parental alienation cases where the dispute has become intractable. Although Gemma has a friendly and sensitive approach, she is resolute in understanding intricate family dynamics, working with her clients to really understand their situation and unyielding in her focus to achieve the best possible outcome.
Gemma is a good listener and communicator enabling her to provide sympathetic support to clients and is able to relate to people at all levels. Her focus on effective communication means her clients get clear advice objectively and in plain English.
Relevant Experience
- Acting for the wife within Family Law Act injunction proceedings against her husband in a domestic abuse case. The husband had attempted a serious assault upon his wife and child. I was successful in obtaining protective orders and an order enabling wife to remain in the home until she could re-house and obtain a divorce.
- Acting for mother in enforcement proceedings. The children were living with father. An existing order was in place to facilitate the mother spending time with the children, but the father unilaterally suspended contact breaching the order. I represented the mother within enforcement proceedings and achieved an outcome where her contact was reinstated and additional contact was ordered.
- Acting for a mother within children act proceedings against the father. Historic child arrangements had always been agreed between parents but the father had unilaterally retained the child following a period of agreed contact. I represented the mother at an urgent court hearing and was successful in obtaining an order for the status quo to be reinstated, the child to be returned to the mother’s care and further proceedings.
- Having acted for a wife in divorce proceedings some years previously, I was reinstructed to finalise financial matters as these were not pursued at the time of the divorce. There were no joint matrimonial assets but the husband was a beneficiary to an inheritance. I secured financial settlement secured for the wife to include capitalisation of unpaid child maintenance.
- Acting for the mother in an application under the Children Act for permission to relocate outside of the UK. Relocation was initially refused by the father, but after negotiations and assisting the client in providing a strong statement the relocation was agreed alongside a Child Arrangements Order.
- Acting for father against a mother who wished to relocate outside of the UK. Although relocation itself was not opposed, I negotiated to achieve a good contact order in favour of the father prior to the commencement of proceedings and an order being made by consent.
Awards
- Devon and Somerset Law Society Awards – Chartered Legal Executive of the year 2020
- Winner of the Devon and Somerset Law Society Awards 2017
Qualifications
- Member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel
- CILEX Lawyer
- ILEX Level 6 Contract Law, Tort Law, Family Law and Family Practice
- BTEC Higher National Certificate – Legal Practice
- British Sign Language Level 1 Award
- NVQ in Team Leading
