Isabella is a paralegal in the Abuse Team and started at Bolt Burdon Kemp in September 2024. She works alongside Rebecca Sheriff, to support survivors of sexual abuse with their compensation claims.
Isabella has previous experience in the charity sector, working to support survivors of torture and women in migration detention. She is deeply compassionate and works to ensure everyone she meets feels heard and respected.
Originally from the United States, Isabella came to the UK in 2020 to study for an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at Oxford University. Her master’s dissertation focused on an American case where a gynaecologist forcibly sterilised and sexually assaulted migrant women who were attempting to access reproductive care.
After graduation, she trained as a trauma-informed doula (birth supporter) inspired by her research and determined to uphold human rights in care spaces. She has since volunteered to advocate for vulnerable women and birthing people through their pregnancy, birth, and post-partum period. Alongside this work and in support of her community, Isabella has also written a training module for birthworkers on LGBTQIA+ competency and care. Isabella is passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ survivors of abuse.
Isabella received a BA from the University of Michigan in History. During her undergraduate degree, she worked for the Carceral State Project on the “Documenting Criminalisation and Confinement Initiative.” Her team was dedicated to uncovering instances of police violence and abuse in 1970s Detroit. She analysed hundreds of citizens’ complaints and created an interactive map to demonstrate patterns of police violence and chronicle individuals’ experiences over the decade.
Isabella’s experiences in academia and volunteering work only solidified her desire to train as a solicitor. She received a distinction from BPP for her GDL which she completed as a Master of Laws in Law and Legal Practice. She also received a distinction for her written work on AI generated legal advice and negligence. She aspires to qualify as a solicitor.
