Gemma Wilkinson Head of Legal Compliance
Gemma Wilkinson is the Head of Legal Compliance at Swinburne Maddison, responsible for ensuring the firm upholds the highest regulatory standards and maintains its strong reputation for legal integrity.
Earlier in her career, she worked as a solicitor at a Newcastle based law firm, having qualified in 2009, and later progressing to Associate Solicitor, specialising in personal injury law. Gemma spent over a decade working in practice before transitioning into compliance leadership in 2021.
Gemma holds a Masters in Advanced Legal Practice from Northumbria University and an LLB Law degree from Newcastle University. Additionally, she is a Certified Data Protection Foundation & Practitioner, equipping her with the necessary skills to manage Data Protection and regulatory compliance effectively.
Gemma is known for her collaborative approach, working closely with teams across the firm to provide clear and effective compliance guidance. She is also committed to supporting the next generation of legal professionals through initiatives such as ‘Build My Skills,’ where she delivers presentations to school students on key aspects of the legal profession.
She has extensive experience working with leading law firms on compliance and risk management, ensuring regulatory adherence and best practice implementation. Before joining Swinburne Maddison in January 2025, Gemma served as Complaints & Compliance Manager at a Newcastle law firm, where she played a key role in developing and enforcing compliance strategies.
With over 15 years of post-qualification experience, she brings a wealth of legal knowledge and a strategic approach to compliance management. Her role involves overseeing the firm’s adherence to evolving legal and regulatory frameworks, managing day-to-day compliance queries, and maintaining the firm’s Lexcel accreditation.
News & Insights
Insight
Government-Funded Occupational Health Training Offered to Small Businesses
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Why written Contracts matter. Lessons from Harrison V Buchanan
A recent court case serves as a useful reminder that it always pays to have a formal written contract, rather than relying on what was agreed in verbal discussions or through exchanges of emails or other messages. The Case The case of Harrison (t/a Rayson Engineering) v Buchanan and another [2025] EWHC 3283 (IPEC) was […]
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Changes to ID Verification with Companies House and Company Registers
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a mandatory requirement for Directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). These changes were introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023, which is part of the UK Government’s wider strategy to combat economic crime and improve corporate accountability. What’s changed? Identity verification is now […]
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Careers at Swinburne Maddison
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