Experienced disputes lawyer Gemma Read joins as senior counsel in London

Gemma Read has joined our London office as a senior counsel in our Insolvency & Dispute Resolution team.
 
Gemma brings significant experience advising on complex domestic and cross-border disputes, with a practice spanning litigation, international arbitration, insolvency and restructuring matters, with a particular specialism in civil fraud work. She has advised clients on both English High Court and offshore litigation, as well as international arbitration proceedings, across a broad range of sectors and jurisdictions.
 
Gemma's appointment further strengthens our London Insolvency & Dispute Resolution practice and reflects our continued investment in supporting clients on complex contentious, restructuring and regulatory matters across multiple jurisdictions.
 
Our London Insolvency & Dispute Resolution team advises financial institutions, investment funds, corporates, officeholders, trustees and private clients on a broad range of complex cross-border disputes, restructuring and insolvency matters, international arbitration proceedings and regulatory investigations. Working closely with colleagues across our international network, the team delivers integrated advice on some of the most significant and challenging matters facing clients today.
 
Prior to joining Walkers, Gemma was a legal director at a specialist law firm in London where she played a leading role in a multi-party, multi-billion-pound claim before the English High Court. Before that, she was a senior associate in a global law firm, advising clients on a broad range of high-value domestic and cross-border disputes, including significant civil fraud mandates that flowed from the collapse of an international retail group listed on the Frankfurt and Johannesburg stock exchanges. 
 
Recognised as a Future Leader in Lexology's International Arbitration Index 2026, Gemma has experience advising clients across sectors including finance, construction, real estate, leisure and tourism, energy and natural resources, and pharmaceuticals.
 
Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Chissick, head of our London Insolvency & Dispute Resolution team, said:
 
'We're delighted to welcome Gemma to Walkers. She brings extensive experience across complex cross-border disputes, insolvency and restructuring matters, trust disputes and regulatory investigations, further strengthening the breadth and depth of our London practice.'
 
'Gemma has built an impressive practice advising clients on English High Court and offshore litigation, as well as international arbitration proceedings. Demand for sophisticated dispute resolution and restructuring advice continues to grow, and her appointment reflects our commitment to investing in exceptional talent and providing clients with the highest quality advice on their most complex and significant matters. Her experience and expertise will be a tremendous asset to both our team and our clients.'
 
Commenting on her appointment, Gemma Read said:
 
'I am delighted to be joining Walkers and a team with such a strong reputation for advising on complex cross-border disputes and restructuring matters. I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm's international network to support clients on their most significant challenges.'