Jessica Keal

Spear’s Review

Jessica Keal, an associate at Simkins, is already forming a niche for herself in representing members of the LGBTQ+ community in family law proceedings.

The team’s priority is the welfare of their client, for wellbeing and legal reasons. She said: ‘The very best way to make sure your client is being properly supported from a holistic viewpoint is to meet them in person. Firstly, we want to make sure they’re OK and are getting the medical and emotional support that they need. If they’re not OK, they’re not going to be in a position to give us the best instructions.

‘I have quite a lot of experience around the children side of things, but my niche is LGBTQ+. Family law applies equally to everyone, but there are some issues that are more likely to affect people in the LGBTQ+ community.’ 

Since moving to Simkins in 2021, Keal has found that the firm is particularly well suited for her to pursue this interest, which she describes as a meeting between family and human rights law.