‘Well done to you for keeling it all together, keeping him informed – he is very lucky to have had you represent him’
Counsel
‘It was a real pleasure working with you on this. It’s really rare to have a solicitor who puts as much time, care and effort into getting things right’
Counsel
‘Well done to you for keeling it all together, keeping him informed – he is very lucky to have had you represent him’
Counsel
‘It was a real pleasure working with you on this. It’s really rare to have a solicitor who puts as much time, care and effort into getting things right’
Counsel
‘Well done to you for keeling it all together, keeping him informed – he is very lucky to have had you represent him’
Counsel
‘It was a real pleasure working with you on this. It’s really rare to have a solicitor who puts as much time, care and effort into getting things right’
Counsel
Jemma Michaelson is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Complex Crime team based in our London office and is the Team Leader of the same. Jemma is a recommended lawyer as per the 2025 Legal 500.
Jemma qualified as a solicitor in 2017, and her career has gone from strength to strength. Jemma joined Reeds in March 2022, departing from a Tier 1 ranked firm. Jemma held the Law Society CLAS qualification and has been police station accredited since 2013, whilst still at university.
Jemma has prepared all types of criminal cases from Magistrates Court trials, to complex Crown Court trials, including high profile matters of rape, attempted murder, drug supply and complex fraud cases. Jemma provides clear, assertive advice to clients accused of various offences. Jemma’s practice is now predominantly focused on complex Crown Court trials.
Jemma has significant experience and success in representing clients charged with the most serious offences. Jemma’s attention to detail and relentless pursuit of justice ensures that she is sought after and often referred the more complicated of cases, by clients and those within the profession.
Jemma is approachable and deals with clients with ease, from all backgrounds and walks of life. She is able to quickly identify pertinent issues in cases and rarely switches off, being available for clients and counsel at all times. Jemma takes pride in her client care, robust advice and case preparation.
Jemma is a dedicated advocate who will always work hard to ensure her clients receive the best outcome possible. Jemma is meticulous in her preparation meaning her cases are always handled with the utmost care. Jemma prides herself in providing excellent levels of client care for each case and recognises the difficult and often sensitive situations they find themselves in.
In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Jemma Michaelson Level A hourly rates.
Further examples of her track record in dealing with high profile and serious matters can be seen below.
Awards and Recognition
Jemma was recognised in the 2025 Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer in London General Crime.
Recent and notable cases
R v M [2024] Harrow Crown Court
Jemma’s client was one of four defendants charged with Conspiracy to Kidnap, Blackmail and Falsely Imprison. The evidence against her client was formed by way of phone evidence and voice evidence. Following work done by Jemma and representations made, it became apparent that the voice recording was not that of Jemma’s client. The Crown subsequently offed no evidence.
R v M [2024] Inner London Crown Court
Jemma represented a youth client of good character, who was one of a large group charged with s.18 GBH. Following a successful application made by Jemma and Counsel to vacate his guilty plea, along with a strong mitigation package obtained and prepared by Jemma.
R v G [2024] Central Criminal Court
Jemma represented a client of previous good character, charged with Attempted Murder in relation to a stabbing that took place on CCTV in Romford. Following pleas by the co-defendant and on the second day of trial, the Prosecution offered no evidence in relation to Jemma’s client.
R v C [2023] Harrow Crown Court
Jemma represented a youth client before Harrow Crown Court. Jemma’s client was one of 7 defendants charged with Perverting the Course of Justice, in relation to a fatal shooting that took place in July 2022. Our client was alleged to have been part of a group that set the car used for the shooting on file. Following a 6-week trial, Jemma’s client was unanimously acquitted.
R v A-M [2023] Isleworth Crown Court
Jemma represented a client charged with s.18 GBH, Violent Disorder and Possession of a Bladed Article. Jemma’s client was caught on CCTV stabbing a male in the street following an unprovoked group fight. Following a trial, our client was acquitted of the most serious offences, convicted of a s.20 GBH and Violent Disorder and received a sentence of only 16 months imprisonment.
R v M [2024] Maidstone Crown Court
Jemma represented a 19-year old Defendant charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class A, Possession with Intent to Supply Class B and Possession of a Bladed Article. Her client had one previous conviction as a youth but other than that was of good character. Following a delayed sentencing hearing and an extensive mitigation package obtained by Jemma, her client received a total sentence of 23 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. The starting point for the drug offence was that of 4.5 years imprisonment. It was reduced not only for credit but for his mitigation as well.
R v W-V [2024] Luton Crown Court
Jemma represented a client charged with offences of Being Concerned in the Supply of Class B. Following Jemma’s involvement in the case, a Basis of Plea was drafted and accepted in full by the Crown, placing her client in a lower category, despite being found with significant amounts of THC vapes and indeed cash. Jemma’s client received a Community Order for the same, following a mitigation package obtained and put forward by Jemma and counsel.
POCA proceedings were initiated but due to the agreed Basis of Plea drafted by Jemma, the Court were limited in what they could find. Following further representations, the Crown halted the POCA proceedings.
R v BT [2024] Nottingham Crown Court.
Jemma represented a client charged with a Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs. Following a guilty plea mid-trial, Jemma’s client received a sentence of 6 years 6 months. POCA proceedings began and following work done by Jemma and counsel and representations made, the benefit figure was reduced from over £1million to £100,000.
R v S [2024] Chelmsford Crown Court
Jemma secured Not Guilty verdicts for her client following a 12-day trial before Chelmsford Crown Court. Jemma’s client faced allegations of Fraudulent Evasion of a Prohibition, namely the importation of approximately 400 kilos of cannabis on two boats from Canada. The defendant was accused of being part of a group, including at least 4 others, who were not charged and had since seemingly fled, said to have been working as an OCG to import large quantities of cannabis from Canada to the UK. At least two of the suspects were known to be international drug smugglers. Our client’s name was all over the case, with his name and home address used to open companies to ship the boat. This was a complex case prosecuted by the National Crime Agency, with in excess of 11,000 pages served as evidence.
R v S [2023] Lewes Crown Court
Represented a defendant in a multi-handed case charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. Following Jemma’s pro-active approach in chasing an old NRM and submitting a new NRM referral, along with expert reports, it transpired that, despite the police suggesting otherwise, our client was known to have been trafficked. Following service of these documents, the Crown offered no evidence.
R v F [2022] Lewes Crown Court
Jemma obtained an acquittal after a trial whilst running the s.45 Modern Slavery Act defence. Jemma represented the defendant, who whilst was an adult during proceedings, was a youth at the time of the allegation, for a number of drug supply offences. The defendant had further cases in Essex & Hertfordshire. Despite significant changes in law around the Modern Slavery defence at the time, the defendant was acquitted following trial, and his matters in Essex and Hertfordshire were also dropped.
R v E [2024] Inner London Crown Court
Jemma’s client was a Metropolitan Police Civil Employee charged with sexual assault against a co-worker on a work evening out. Despite weak and tenuous evidence and representations made, the prosecution proceeded. Jemma obtained three witness statements completely undermining the complainants account, kept in touch with said witnesses despite a significant delay, and ensured they attended court. Following a trial, and within a very short period, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts.
R v C [2024] Inner London Crown Court
Jemma represented a defendant charged with a number of serious historic sexual offences against a 7-year-old family member.
R v J [2023] Croydon Crown Court
Jemma’s client faced charged of rape from 2017, having been arrested for the same in 2019, against his niece, who was a child. Persistent pursual of relevant disclosure and detailed analysis and deployment of the unused obtained, allowed counsel to set out the foundations for the jury, showing the complainant to be less than reliable and to provide suggestable motive. The jury returned their verdict in under an hour following a six day trial. Jemma’s client was unanimously acquitted.
R v P [2023] Croydon Crown Court
Jemma secured a unanimous acquitted of her client charged with an historic offence of Rape, which had been hanging over him for nearly 30 years. The prosecution had already offered no evidence on two counts of indecent assault against the same complainant prior to trial. The complainant was the defendant’s first cousin and it was a delicate case, with 30 years of family history to be explored. Jemma managed to obtain a witness statement from a previously neutral member of the family, who then attended Court to give evidence for the defendant. The case involved obtaining 25 defence witness statements, from witnesses of fact to character evidence. The jury were in retirement for approximately 20 minutes, before returning unanimous verdicts following a 7-day trial.
R v F-R [2023] Inner London Crown Court
Jemma represented a defendant charged with Child Neglect & ABH before Inner London Crown Court. There had been expert evidence from the prosecution as to the nature of the injuries caused by the defendant to her child. Following a trial, her client was unanimously acquitted of the Child Neglect. There was a hung jury on the ABH charge and following representations made to the Prosecution by Jemma and counsel, no further re-trial was sought and the Defendant was formally acquitted of both charges.
R v D [2022] Woolwich Crown Court
Jemma represented a defendant charged with Child Cruelty and ABH against her disabled daughter. The defendant vehemently denied these charges. Jemma obtained a significant volume of material by way of unused and obtained the support of social services to reunite the family. Following stringent representations made by Jemma to the Prosecution, they formally offered no evidence against our client.
R v K & Others [2020] Snaresbrook Crown Court
Jemma represented a young female defendant of good character, for a conspiracy to kidnap and possession of criminal property. Defendant was acquitted following a successful half-time submission and her schedules of the unused material were used by co-defendants counsel in cross-examination of the OIC.
R v S & Others [2018] Isleworth Crown Court
Jemma represented a defendant in a multi-handed conspiracy to contravene immigration law. Jemma litigated the case in full from the police station stage, to trial, dealing with a very high page count. Jemma’s client was acquitted following a submission of no case to answer, just before final speeches.
Testimonials
“Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism. Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism, care and diligence throughout what has been the most difficult period of my life. I felt like I was in safe hands and that she understood my case and how to build the most robust defence against the charges against me. I highly recommend her and Reeds as the go to law firm for legal matters and am thankful to her beyond words in helping to get the right result, which was my acquittal.”
Client
“Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism. Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism, care and diligence throughout what has been the most difficult period of my life. I felt like I was in safe hands and that she understood my case and how to build the most robust defence against the charges against me. I highly recommend her and Reeds as the go to law firm for legal matters and am thankful to her beyond words in helping to get the right result, which was my acquittal.”
Client
“Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism. Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism, care and diligence throughout what has been the most difficult period of my life. I felt like I was in safe hands and that she understood my case and how to build the most robust defence against the charges against me. I highly recommend her and Reeds as the go to law firm for legal matters and am thankful to her beyond words in helping to get the right result, which was my acquittal.”
Client
“Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism. Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism, care and diligence throughout what has been the most difficult period of my life. I felt like I was in safe hands and that she understood my case and how to build the most robust defence against the charges against me. I highly recommend her and Reeds as the go to law firm for legal matters and am thankful to her beyond words in helping to get the right result, which was my acquittal.”
Client
“Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism. Jemma has been the embodiment of professionalism, care and diligence throughout what has been the most difficult period of my life. I felt like I was in safe hands and that she understood my case and how to build the most robust defence against the charges against me. I highly recommend her and Reeds as the go to law firm for legal matters and am thankful to her beyond words in helping to get the right result, which was my acquittal.”
Client