Gemma practises in public and administrative law and commercial law. Gemma is the President of the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty Victoria).

Gemma is an experienced advocate and regularly appears in all Victorian courts, the Federal Court, VCAT and the AAT. Gemma also has a significant advice practice.

Gemma welcomes briefs from government, regulatory bodies and individuals.

Public, administrative and regulatory law

Gemma’s experience spans a broad range of subject areas including health and disability, firearms, freedom of information, employment, environment and licensing. Gemma has significant experience in human rights matters, including in the application of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and other human rights instruments.

Selected matters include:

• Van Loo & Ors v Commissioner for Social Housing [2026] ACTSC 11 (ACT Supreme Court, led by Peter Tierney), judicial review of a decision to redevelop public housing in the ACT.
• Berih v Homes Victoria (No 4) [2025] VSC 169 and Mallard v Homes Victoria (led by Kateena O'Gorman SC, with Leigh Howard and Tim Farhall), the class action in relation to the decision to demolish the public housing towers.
• Secretary to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing v AM & Ors [2023] VSC 291 (led by Eleanor Mallett KC), appeal of an interim accommodation order under the Children, Youth and Families Act.
• JL v Mental Health Tribunal (No 1) [2021] VSC 868 (led by Lisa De Ferrari SC), and JL v Mental Health Tribunal (No 2) [2022] VSC 222 (unled). Judicial review of a decision of an authorised psychiatrist under the Mental Health Act.
• Markiewicz v Crnjac [2021] VSCA 290 (led by Ron Merkel KC). Test case in relation to the COVID-19 protections for renters.
• Danyl Hammond (a pseudonym) v Secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services & Ors (No 1) [2018] VSCA 356 (led by Claire Harris KC, as her Honour then was). Appeal from a decision of the Supreme Court to refuse a non-custodial supervision order.
• Department of Justice and Regulation v LLF [2018] VSCA 155 (led by Claire Harris KC, as her Honour then was). Appeal from a decision of VCAT to grant a working with children check.
• Various matters under the Firearms Act.

Commissions and inquests

Gemma regularly appears and advises in coronial matters, commissions, and investigations. She appears as counsel assisting, for government and institutional parties, and for individuals.

Recent matters include:

• Inquest into the death of Simon Gaskill (unled, Counsel Assisting the Coroner) - 2026.
• The Yoorrook Justice Commission as counsel for the State of Victoria (led by Peter Gray KC, Christopher Horan KC, Richard Knowles KC, Georgina Coghlan KC, and Elizabeth Bennett SC) - 2022-2025.
• Inquest into the death of Olivia Evans (unled, for Monash Health) - 2025.
• Trans and Gender Diverse Suicide Cluster inquest (unled, Counsel Assisting the Coroner) - 2023-2024.
• Coronial Inquest into Deaths at St Basil's Homes for the Aged (unled, for 61 family members) - 2022, 2026.
• Inquest into the death of Jackson Eales (unled, for WorkSafe Victoria) – 2023.

Sexual harassment, discrimination and employment law

Gemma is briefed in sexual harassment matters in the Federal Court, VCAT and human rights commissions. Recent matters include:

• BPC24 v Como Glasshouse No2 Pty Ltd & Anor (led by Mark Irving KC) - 2023-2024, alleged sexual harassment of 12 overseas seasonal workers.
• Bishnoi v Star Track Express Pty Ltd & Ors (led by Malcolm Harding SC) – 2025, regarding the application of protections under the Sex Discrimination Act to workers purportedly engaged under contract.
• ZBL v Olivo [2021] VCAT 850 (unled) - landmark ruling on damages in a sexual harassment case.

Residential tenancy matters

Gemma is highly regarded for her expertise in residential tenancy matters, with substantial experience in matters in VCAT and appellate courts. Her matters include:

• Markiewicz v Crnjac [2021] VSCA 290 (led by Ron Merkel KC), a test case on the application of COVID-19 protections for renters; and
• Jafarpourasr v Tancevksi [2018] VSC 497 (unled), a key authority on the technical requirements for notices to vacate.

Health and disability law

Gemma has extensive experience in health and disability matters. She welcomes briefs in matters involving disciplinary action, insurance litigation, reviews, and appeals. Gemma's work in this area includes:

• Mental Health Tribunal hearings, including TUQ [2018] VMHT 13 (review of a community treatment order) and CWR [2021] VMHT 10 (application for electroconvulsive treatment (ECT)).
• National Disability Insurance Scheme matters at the AAT, including Ewin and National Disability Insurance Agency [2018] AATA 4726 (a landmark case pertaining to transport funding under the NDIS).
• Centrelink appeals at the AAT, including Miller; Secretary, Department of Social Services [2019] AATA 2315 (a review of a disability support pension matter);
• Reviews under the Crimes Mental Impairment Act in the Supreme and County Courts, including Re KP [2019] VSC 7 (application for variation of a custodial supervision order).
• Guardianship and administration order matters, including THD (Guardianship) [2020] VCAT 677 (reassessment of a guardianship order).

General information

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 and Administrative Law in 2019.

Gemma served on the Victorian Bar Council from 2023 to 2025.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Gemma was an Associate Public Defender (Civil Justice) in Victoria Legal Aid Chambers.

Gemma read with the Honourable Justice Elizabeth Bennett and her senior mentor was the Honourable Justice Claire Harris.