Associate solicitor, Gemma Gillespie, was delighted to be asked to attend the grand opening of the new office for the Tunbridge Wells & District branch of Citizens Advice on Friday 11 May, which was performed by local MP, Greg Clark. The organisation is now based in Monson House, Monson Way in the town.
Gemma, along with fellow associate solicitor, Katie Hilsdon, both volunteer for Citizens Advice one afternoon each month – Gemma offering advice on family matters and Katie on other areas of civil law.
Gemma is a solicitor in CooperBurnett’s family and matrimonial department. She qualified in 1996 and, for the last 15 years, has specialised in family law, acting on behalf of clients in complex financial cases in respect of divorce proceedings and private law children proceedings.
“During my sessions at Citizens Advice, I advise on a range of family matters from finances through to adoption and protection injunctions,” says Gemma. “I really enjoy being able to point people in the right direction. So much advice is now online and generic and doesn’t meet a person’s specific circumstance. I am able to advise on their legal position and when it is worth pursuing a matter and, if so, how they should do this and what local services are out there to help.”
Katie Hilsdon is based within CooperBurnett’s company and commercial team and has been involved with Citizens Advice for a number of years.
“I first started volunteering with Eastbourne Citizens Advice in 2014 and then worked full-time as a project manager for them for a year, before I became a paralegal,” Katie says. “I was keen to continue to be involved once qualified and enjoy the opportunity to help the local community in Tunbridge Wells.”
After he had performed the opening of CAB, Greg Clark was guest speaker at the West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry Spring Lunch at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells, which was attended by Victoria Sampson, Jonathan Rowe and Lyn Tomlin.
