Gillian Geddes

Gillian is an experienced practitioner, called to the bar in 1997. Having previously been Head of Chambers at her own specialist family set in London, she moved to 36 Family prior to moving Leicestershire and to KCHGS in 2022.

Gillian has extensive experience in public law children work gained both from her independent practice and from having worked in-house for two years on behalf of two separate local authorities.

She regularly deals with a wide range of cases featuring issues including (not exclusively) mental health, non-accidental injury, deprivation of liberty, adoption and representation of vulnerable adults and young people, taking instructions from all parties. She also specialises in cases with immigration/cross-border aspects, having in earlier times been selected to represent the Immigration Casework Directorate in asylum and immigration appeals from 2000 – 2002, when she was further instructed to deliver applied human rights training to all departments within the Immigration Services.

Gillian has excellent cross examination skills – “She is great for advocacy and you can really see her level of expertise come through. She exudes experience.” (Chambers and Partners 2016).

Gillian is a regular contributor to legal publications including Family Law Journal, Westlaw, Counsel, and Family Law Week. Her many articles have included a series of Family Law Journal articles entitled “Foreign Lands” focussing particularly on issues arising for family lawyers with clients subject to immigration control. She has also spoken frequently at public conferences.

Gillian was co-author of “Working in the Family Justice System, the Official Handbook of the Family Justice System” (3rd Edn. pub. Family Law, 2010), and more recently has co-authored “The Single Family Court: A Practitioner’s Handbook” (pub. Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, 2016 and 2017).

D and E (Parent with Autism) [2020] EWFC – Representing a mother with autism

A local authority v (1) M and (2) F [2017] EWHC 3832 (Fam) – Representing a local authority placing a child abroad.

Re B (A Child) (1980 Hague Convention Proceedings) [2014] EWCA Civ 375 – Representing a local authority as a party to Hague Convention proceedings

Chambers and Partners 2016
Gillian has extensive experience in sensitive public law matters pertaining to children, including those concerning non-accidental injury and abuse. She is additionally noted for her specialism in handling cross-border cases with an immigration aspect to them.

Bencher of Gray’s Inn

Gillian is also a member of the Family Law Bar Association.