Gemma White
Year Called:2009 (Inner Temple)
Degree:LLB Law with French (Hons) 2.1
University of the West of England, Bristol
Certificate in European Political Studies
Université de Robert Schuman, Strasbourg
Bar Vocational Course (Very competent)
BPP Holborn
Teams:Criminal & Regulatory
Common Law
Direct Access
Memberships: Criminal Bar Association
Grade 2 Prosecutor
Languages:French (advanced)
Practice Areas:
General & Regulatory Crime
Gemma joined Chambers from the Crown Prosecution Service. Following pupillage with the CPS, Gemma quickly progressed to a Senior Crown Prosecutor. During this time she developed a deep and sound knowledge of criminal practice and procedure, which she now uses to her advantage whether prosecuting or defending.
Gemma regularly appears in the Crown Court, Magistrates Court and Youth Court defending and prosecuting for the CPS, Probation Service, DWP and Local Authorities. She also acts on behalf of the police and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
Gemma has experience of a range of offences including serious assaults, robbery, burglary, fraud, drugs, sexual offences and dangerous driving. Gemma’s practice is varied and involves general crime and regulatory prosecution in benefit frauds, animal welfare with a particular emphasis on trading standards, which focuses on Fraud, Consumer Protection and Trademarks offences. Gemma also regularly deals with applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
She has a thorough and sound understanding of disclosure and has acted as independent counsel to the court in respect of privileged and protected material. She has also appeared in the High Court Family Division in relation to disclosure of Third Party material in linked family and criminal proceedings. She has worked on large- scale drugs operations where issues of Public Interest Immunity arose.
Gemma has a very modern approach to the way she works and has embraced the advances in technology in the criminal justice system. Because of this, Gemma was selected to trial the CPS ‘paperless courts’ before they were rolled out nationally, and as such has no difficulties in electronic working.
Sport Law
Gemma has a passion for sport and is currently studying for a LLM in Sports Law and Practice. She is the head of Sports law in Chambers. Her particular interests in sport relate to sporting integrity, disciplinary matters, safeguarding and doping. She has a sound knowledge of commercial aspects of sport including contractual matters, sponsorship, licensing and image rights. She has prosecuted a premiership and international footballer. Gemma also prosecuted a former manager of Rushden & Diamonds football club for ABH, which was reported in the local press. She has experience of sports related violence and football banning orders and is extremely keen to develop her practice in all areas of Sports Law.
Gemma has appeared in the anti-doping tribunal acting on behalf of an athlete charged with an anti-doping rule violation. She appeared in the first case to be brought before the tribunal under the 2015 WADA Code and UK anti-doping rules.
Gemma enjoys all sports and plays and umpires netball in a local league. She has played hockey and women’s rugby and enjoys all outdoors activities including climbing, diving and kayaking. She lives in the New Forest where she grew up and has two small children who monopolise the little free time that she has. She is qualified to accept instructions across all areas of her practice, on a direct access basis.
What others say
‘The officers attending the hearing were very impressed with the tenacity and skill shown by Gemma in making the application for the remand in custody, which was achieved in the face of considerable opposition from the defence’. – Wiltshire Constabulary
Gemma acted professionally, with great maturity, sympathy and empathy. I am quite sure that no amount of training could have led to this, she is a natural. The time that Gemma took to explain, and the manner in which she explained, the court procedure, outcomes, and the sentence, was invaluable to us, and has greatly contributed to the healing process, and some way towards closure.’ -Victim
Notable cases
Operation Sheffield 2009-2010 - 45 defendants in class A drugs conspiracies- case involved complex evidence and sensitive PII matters, police were provided with investigative and charging advice and Gemma undertook a large proportion of the drafting and case management
R v T [2011]- ‘first paperless trial’ in North Hampshire- known sex offender charged with sexual offences- conviction and SOPO secured
R v LK [2013] successfully prosecuted an international and premiership footballer for failing to furnish information
R v C [2013] youth charged with Aggravated TWOC where the only evidence as to identification came from police dog tracking a scent- conviction secured.
AC v F [2014] employment advice leading to offer to settle far in excess of any likely award in the ET
MOD v B [2014] Independent Counsel to the court in respect of material attracting legal professional privilege
Re H [2014] High Court Family Division- application for disclosure of sensitive social services documents out of family proceedings for consideration as to whether they revealed any evidence to assist a prosecution- granted
R v B [2014] Defence Counsel successfully mitigated for a sentence which did not involve immediate custody for two counts of possession of criminal property arising out of thousands of pounds of money linked to drug dealing being seized
R v F [2014] Defence Counsel successfully mitigated at sentence to prevent immediate custodial sentence for possession with intent to supply of £14,000 cannabis
PCC v R [2014] Represented Local Authority in prosecution of unlicensed tattoo artist for tattooing a 13 year old; convicted of Assault occasioning Actual Bodily harm and sentenced to a suspended sentence; the case was widely reported in the press locally, nationally and internationally in the New York Daily News.
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