Joanna Gillan

Joanna Gillan

Call: 2010

"Joanna's dedication to her clients is paramount. She goes above and beyond to assist us in preparing cases and meeting clients' objectives."

SMQ Solicitors

Joanna has extensive experience in Child Arrangement Order applications and has an ability to deal with a wide range of clients professionally, but also in an understanding and compassionate manner.

SMQ Solicitors

Joanna immediately obtains a rapport with the judge. She provides clear advice, is concise and approachable. She is quick on her feet and her knowledge of the law is brilliant. An extremely intelligent, charming and tenacious advocate who understands her client’s needs and delivers a first class submission to judges.

Mario Montana, Montana Solicitors

As a solicitor I wish Joanna was available on all my cases. She grasps the issues very quickly, provides sound advice and her advocacy skills are superb.

Mario Montana, Montana Solicitors

"I am so grateful that I have been working with Joanna Gillan during what has been a very difficult and trying time in my life. Her dedication, understanding, empathy, kindness, attention to detail and professionalism throughout has undoubtedly got me to a point that I feel I would not have achieved by myself. I would highly recommend her services to others and should you be able to work with her, you will receive an outstanding level of service."

Client

Interested in instructing Miss Gillan?

Please call 020 7353 6802 or complete the form below:

Joanna is a specialist Family barrister dealing with Child Arrangement Orders and Finance cases (with various complexities, including, jurisdictional issues, intermediaries, mental health complexities and interim applications). Joanna is regularly instructed in cases involving domestic violence allegations and works for both Mothers and Fathers in complex fact finding hearings, which gives her the ability to utilise her knowledge from both edges of the sword to maximise her ability to find the important features of each case.

Joanna is known for her confident, persuasive and poignant oral arguments, and her ability to digest and present facts and figures effectively and efficiently. She has an empathetic and approachable professional manner, whilst making robust and authoritative submissions in court. Joanna is often instructed for advice work and prides herself on providing ‘to the point’, helpful and practical written documents.

Having successfully won on a number of boarder-line cases, Joanna is very adapt at being able to fit together law and facts to provide the final point that the Judge can ‘hang his hat on’. Having recently successfully argued a niche issue as to whether the costs ordered on an Occupation Order had been consumed by the subsequent Consent Order at an FDR (pre Decree Absolute), it is of note that her particular practice areas make her an advocate who can touch upon an array of knowledge to create forceful, well thought-out arguments.

Before joining the self-employed Bar, Joanna worked as an advocate at a national solicitors firm specialising in general Civil Litigation, Employment Law and Costs. Her Common Law pupillage and consequential time in the Criminal Courts has afforded her a complete and well-rounded background in advocacy. Joanna is a confident and compassionate barrister, making her the ideal Counsel on cases involving nervous and vulnerable clients, or on cases which require a strong and assertive Counsel. Her most loyal instructing solicitors would say that one of her biggest assets is her ability to understand a case quickly; provide advice based on a forensic analysis of the facts; and keep a client happy and confident in her ability throughout.

Joanna is qualified to accept instructions via the Direct Access Scheme.

Recent cases:

DA v LA [2019/20] – Extensive costs argument over various hearings concerning the construction of an FDR Consent Order, and the inclusion of costs from separate proceedings involving the same parties;

Testimonials

“I am so grateful that I have been working with Joanna Gillan during what has been a very difficult and trying time in my life. Her dedication, understanding, empathy, kindness, attention to detail and professionalism throughout has undoubtedly got me to a point that I feel I would not have achieved by myself. I would highly recommend her services to others and should you be able to work with her, you will receive an outstanding level of service.” Client

“Joanna’s calm and focused approach in difficult and complex cases reassures clients at the most stressful of times. Her preparation and attention to detail is impressive.  She is very empathetic towards clients and is a fierce advocate for them. Clients love her.” Kari Clayton-Johns – Absolute Barrister

I have been instructing Joanna for several years, in Children Act matters, financial proceedings and in injunction proceedings. She is very able, very intelligent and fearless when pursuing the aims and needs of her client.  Able to explain complex matters in straightforward terms which is much appreciated by Joanna’s client’s I can do no more than confirm Joanna is ‘First Class’ in every respect.  Those who are able to secure her services are very fortunate indeed.” Karen Agnew-Griffith – Woolley & Co

Joanna is very approachable and she always obtains a good rapport with clients. She has an extensive knowledge of all areas within Family Law and she has the ability to develop strong arguments from the outset of a case. Joanna provides clients with clear advice whilst also being very understanding.” Daren Vythilingum – John Fowlers

Joanna’s dedication to her clients is paramount. She goes above and beyond to assist us in preparing cases and meeting clients’ objectives. Joanna has extensive experience in Child Arrangement Order applications and has an ability to deal with a wide range of clients professionally, but also in an understanding and compassionate manner.” SMQ Solicitors

Joanna immediately obtains a rapport with the judge. She provides clear advice, is concise and approachable. She is quick on her feet and her knowledge of the law is brilliant. An extremely intelligent, charming and tenacious advocate who understands her client’s needs and delivers a first class submission to judges. As a solicitor I wish Joanna was available on all my cases. She grasps the issues very quickly, provides sound advice and her advocacy skills are superb.” Mario Montana – Montana Solicitors

Joanna’s privacy notice can be found here.

 

Interested in instructing Miss Gillan?

Please call 020 7353 6802 or complete the form below:

Family Barrister

Joanna is a family law specialist, highly experienced in all areas of Child and Family law, with a particular emphasis on Financial Remedy hearings. Her areas of expertise include public and private law applications under the Children Act 1989 (with expertise in both making and defending Schedule 1 applications): securing injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996 and, applications under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.

With a broad range of experience in Matrimonial Finance matters, she often sees a way to settlement where others do not. Her ability to effectively “cut to the issue” makes her successful at dealing with emotionally charged cases to achieve the best result for her clients. Her forensic analysis of her briefs leads to a detailed understanding of the facts at hand, and her meticulous and rigorous approach to preparation in every case means that clients receive a consistently high level of service and representation. She is often praised for her clear written notes and straightforward presentation of often complex financial information. Her detailed analysis of court papers means she is confident in her ability to interrogate financial disclosure, with winning results.

Joanna has experience in working with cases involving domestic violence. She is noted by her solicitors as having an adaptable, professional and personable approach. Her commitment to client care ensures that professional and lay clients alike are provided with support, advice and attention at every stage of the case

Education & Qualifications


  • BVC, BPP Holborn
  • Antrim, Queens University Belfast
  • BA (Hons), Kingston-Upon-Thames University

Memberships


  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Lawyers for Children
  • Middle Temple

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