Anne E. Gillespie - Newton, MA

Attorney Gillespie is a family law attorney with over 25 years of experience in representing families in divorce, separation, paternity, child custody, guardianship, care and protection, including DCF Fair Hearings, foster parent and adoption matters. Attorney Gillespie focuses her work in the area of complex child custody and asset division cases to assist families in achieving safety and stability while protecting a client’s financial interests throughout the representation. Attorney Gillespie is often called upon by experienced lawyers to provide expert legal consultation and representation regarding complicated intimate partner abuse, mental health and substance abuse issues that arise in their cases. Attorney Gillespie has developed a trauma-informed approach to her work that maximizes a client’s collaboration, agency and involvement in developing strategies to move forward with her/his life. Attorney Gillespie is also experienced in the intersection of clinical and legal issues, including privilege, confidentiality and expert witness testimony. Attorney Gillespie worked as an Assistant Regional Counsel with the Department of Children and Families for ten years, where, in addition to litigating Care and Protection custody and termination of parental rights matters, she developed trainings for mental health, educational, law enforcement, medical and other professionals regarding child protection and domestic violence issues. Attorney Gillespie also worked for the Medical Legal Partnership at Boston Medical Center, developing the family law clinic.

Attorney Gillespie has taught Family Law and Juvenile Law at Northeastern University School of Law and Boston University School of Law. She has collaborated with and participated in numerous multidisciplinary task forces, advocacy councils and conferences that address the complex legal and clinical issues that families affected by domestic violence and child abuse often face. Attorney Gillespie provides mentorship for the Women’s Bar Advocacy Project and domestic violence program legal staff. In addition, Attorney Gillespie provides pro bono representation for domestic violence programs, in particular in assisting them in developing their legal programs, as well as in protecting the privilege of sensitive client information.

Attorney Gillespie also has served, as a founding member, both on Neighborhood Health Plan’s Domestic Advisory Board and BalletRox’s Board. She has served as Chair of the Board of the Holliston Community Children’s Center and she is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Boston City Singers. She co-authored an article entitled, “Partnering Providers and Advocates for Child Wellness and Family Stability” with Betsy Groves, LICSW, Former Founding Director of the Child Witness to Violence Project. Some of her conference and presentation work include: co-presenter at the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s National Health and Domestic Violence Conference; co-creator and trainer for statewide GAL training on the investigation of child custody and visitation issues in domestic violence cases; presenter at the Harvard University Committee on Human Rights Studies International Human Rights Conference entitled, “Children Without a State: The Human Rights Challenge,” trainer for mental health clinicians and domestic violence advocates at the Child Witness to Violence Project Clinical Institute; and presenter on a panel for the Boston Bar Association’s Immigration Law Committee.