Sydney Mitchell partner becomes Higher Courts Advocate

Birmingham and Solihull law firm Sydney Mitchell has announced that family law partner Gemma Whitchurch has achieved the Higher Rights of Audience Civil qualification.

The qualification enables Gemma to represent clients in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, making her the first solicitor in the firm’s 260-year history to become a solicitor-advocate.

Gemma has specialised in family law for more than 17 years, advising on high-net-worth divorce cases, child arrangement matters and complex domestic abuse situations.

Her new qualification places her among a small number of Higher Rights of Audience civil-qualified solicitor-advocates in the West Midlands.

Gemma said: “Not only does being able to undertake our own advocacy allow continuity of representation for clients within the court arena, but it also removes the need for clients to re-tell their often highly sensitive and complex personal stories, at what can be a really emotional, distressing and stressful time, 

“Furthermore, for Sydney Mitchell to now have a partner who is a Solicitor-Advocate, the firm is truly differentiated from other law firms in the region and has a platform from which to further build the reputation of the family law team.

“This does feel like a huge personal and professional achievement. 

“I am really proud of myself for working hard to pass the qualifying exams and to complete and achieve something I have always wanted.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.