Prior to joining the Bar in 2011, Gill was a solicitor specialising in all aspects of children law. She qualified in 1988, was a member of the Children Panel from 1992 and gained higher advocacy rights (civil) in 2007. For many years Gill was a consultant at Hanne & Co Solicitors in South London. Her focus was on representing children; she was instructed by guardians in care proceedings and 9.5 (now r16.4) cases. She combined this caseload with a busy practice as a freelance solicitor, acting as advocate on an agency basis at all levels of court. In this role Gill represented not only children but also parents and other parties, predominantly in care proceedings.

In 2009 Gill moved to Cafcass Legal, joining a small team of lawyers who represent children in complex High Court litigation, in tandem with the specialist High Court Team guardians. Her cases included issues such as urgent medical treatment, wardship with an international element, “stranded spouses”, Hague Convention, Brussels II (revised) and high risk/police disclosure. She also acted for guardians in public law proceedings who required separate representation from the children, and gave legal advice on a duty basis to Cafcass officers nationally about all aspects of their work.

Gill acts for all parties in both private and public law cases about children. She is a resolute and forceful advocate for her clients but always mindful of the long-term impact on families of adversarial proceedings; where appropriate she seeks a consensual way forward, taking a sensitive, thoughtful and principled approach to negotiations.

Reported cases

Re S (Wardship: Stranded Spouses) [2010] EWHC 1669 (Fam), [2011] 1 FLR 305

WF v FJ, BF and RF (Abduction: Child’s Objections) [2010] EWHX 2909 (Fam), [2011] 1 FLR 1153

Re D (A Child) [2011] EWCA 471 (Fam): summary return of child ordered pursuant to Article 11(7) BIIR

Article

Representation of Children in Hague Proceedings: A Welfare Perspective (co-written with John Mellor, service manager Cafcass High Court Team) June [2011] Fam Law 613