I’m Gemma.

And while you might not get my name right the first time, when you do, you’ll remember it forever.

If you’re here on my website, you might already know I’m a lawyer. You can read more about my professional mantra by clicking here. I’d call lawyering my day job, but that wouldn’t be true. Lawyering is an around-the-clock investment for me. I pride myself in forming strong relationships with my clients, and their lives become a part of mine. I work for the underdog. And I like it that way.

As a first-generation lawyer from modest means, female litigator, and daughter of an immigrant, I have often felt I don’t “fit in” the lawyer world. I have a lot of tattoos. I speak my mind and the truth. And I have a very straight “straight face.” I know people make assumptions. I invite you to get to know me. To be honest, I don’t want to fit a mold. I don’t want to conform to what a lawyer “should” be, or look like, or act like. I mean, a lot of people don’t like lawyers. Maybe we need to ask why that is.

At the end of the day, I’m a person too. And this website is a lot about the person behind the lawyer, and how who I am compliments—and sometimes contradicts—who I am and want to be as a lawyer.

I grew up in Arizona, raised by my father, who immigrated from communist Poland. I have two younger sisters, and they are my inspiration, the keepers of my sanity, and my sounding board. One is a scientist. The other is a nurse. I have a niece, and a nephew on the way.

I have four dogs I adopted from area shelters. My dogs, with their imperfect pasts and their hopeful futures, are the underdogs too. My dogs have helped me train for marathons. They’ve run alongside my gravel bike through miles of countryside. And we recently discovered the (formerly intimidating) world of competitive dog sports: We compete in Rally Obedience, Barn Hunt, Nose Work, Lure Coursing, Tracking and Trailing, and Tricks. One of my favorite things to do after a stressful day is head out into the wilderness and watch my dogs work. Sometimes it’s nice not to be in the driver’s seat.

Life is not linear. It twists and turns. I am blessed to have the opportunity and means to explore pursue my passions—both professionally and personally. I hope to share some of that through this website. If you have thoughts or questions or just want to share your own story, reach out.