Giselle Townshend
Consultant
Contact Information
- Consultant
- Child Care
- Luton
- 07837831321
- @Send Email
Profile / Experience
I am a Consultant Solicitor in the Family and Childcare Department at Duncan Lewis.
With over 10 years experience in children law I have developed an excellent rapport with my clients and regularly conduct my own advocacy. I have considerable experience representing parents and other family members in all types of family matters from kinship care and fostering to divorce and separation, child arrangement orders, special guardianship orders and other related proceedings.
I specialise in representing guardians, parents, young people and other family members in care and adoption proceedings where my cases often involve issues of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as non-accidental injuries. I have extensive experience representing clients where the Official Solicitor has been invited to act and in complex appeal and secure accommodation proceedings in the High Court. I have also been successful in enabling the return of children to families in applications to revoke placement orders and discharge care orders.
I take a keen interest in domestic violence work including honour based crimes such as forced marriages and female genital mutilation. More recently I have forged strong links with and also managed advice clinics at many domestic violence support agencies across London and Hertfordshire including Watford Women's Centre, Southall Black Sisters , Women’s Aid, Ashiana Network amongst others. I continue to have very strong links with many of these agencies for whom I hold regular pro bono clinics and training.
With over 10 years experience in children law I have developed an excellent rapport with my clients and regularly conduct my own advocacy. I have considerable experience representing parents and other family members in all types of family matters from kinship care and fostering to divorce and separation, child arrangement orders, special guardianship orders and other related proceedings.
I specialise in representing guardians, parents, young people and other family members in care and adoption proceedings where my cases often involve issues of emotional, physical and sexual abuse as well as non-accidental injuries. I have extensive experience representing clients where the Official Solicitor has been invited to act and in complex appeal and secure accommodation proceedings in the High Court. I have also been successful in enabling the return of children to families in applications to revoke placement orders and discharge care orders.
I take a keen interest in domestic violence work including honour based crimes such as forced marriages and female genital mutilation. More recently I have forged strong links with and also managed advice clinics at many domestic violence support agencies across London and Hertfordshire including Watford Women's Centre, Southall Black Sisters , Women’s Aid, Ashiana Network amongst others. I continue to have very strong links with many of these agencies for whom I hold regular pro bono clinics and training.
Education
- Legal Practice Course (LPC) - London College of Law
- GDL - London College of Law
- BA (Hons) Business Studies - Nottingham Trent University
Career
- Consultant Solicitor at Duncan Lewis Solicitors 2016-present
- Hodge, Jones and Allen – Solicitor 2016
- Adams Moore Family Law - Senior Solicitor 2011-2013
- Purcell Solicitors - Solicitor 2010
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Paralegal/Solicitor 2006-2010
Testimonials
- "Giselle was very helpful and informative. I am very pleased with all the help and support I received . I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a family solicitor." - Client, Sarah - November 2016
Membership & Accreditations
- The Law Society’s Children Panel
- Association of Lawyers for Children