Lawyer supporters
The law ought to be simple and straightforward for donor conception families, but it isn’t always. For this reason, if you are planning to conceive as a solo mum, thinking about conceiving with the help of a friend outside the clinic system or at an overseas clinic, you might need legal advice. If you already have children but your relationship is breaking down, advice from a sympathetic and knowledgeable practitioner will be important. If you are a solo mum, you should think about making a will to ensure that your wishes are carried out should anything happen to you. Anyone contemplating surrogacy will certainly need a lawyer because a court order is necessary to confer legal parenthood.
There are many lawyers in this area, but the ones below have signed up to our Lawyer Supporter programme, listed alphabetically. We make no particular recommendation about them other than to tell you they are long-term supporters of DC Network and recognise both the importance of the work they do and also the value of our Network in providing help and information to donor conception families.
If you are a specialist lawyer operating in this area and would like more information about the scheme follow the links below
Find out more:
Legal Firms
4 Paper Buildings
Temple
London
EC4Y 7EX
+44 (0) 20 7427 5200
4 Paper Buildings is consistently ranked as a leading set of barristers’ chambers specialising in family law. We have a number of barristers who have experience in the law related fertility, surrogacy, donor conception and legal parentage. Our barristers have appeared in a number of the leading cases in this area of law and can provide assistance through legal advice in conference and/or representation at court.
Biscoes Solicitors
Stephanie Bellchambers & Liza Gatrell
64-66 West Street
Portchester
PO16 9UN
+44 (0) 23 9266 0261
At Biscoes we are committed to helping you create and protect the family you have always wanted.
The law in this area can be complex so it is important that you receive clear advice prior to embarking on this journey. We provide expert, bespoke and cutting edge legal assistance to people across the country and around the world.
Burgess Mee Family Law
Natalie Sutherland
Unit 9
16 Porteus Place
Clapham
London
SW4 0AS
+44 (0) 20 3824 9950
+44 (0) 20 3824 9957
Natalie Sutherland:
Burgess Mee is an award winning, Legal 500 boutique family law practice with offices in Clapham, Hammersmith and Islington. We specialise in all areas of family law including surrogacy and fertility law.
Advances in assisted reproduction technology and developments in society are changing the way we think about the structure of families and what constitutes “family” both on a human and legal level. Our specialist fertility lawyers have wide-ranging experience helping clients navigate the surrogacy process as well as advising on all aspects of fertility law including donor conception.
The law as to who is recognised as a child’s legal parent when they have been conceived using assisted reproduction, is complicated and ever advancing. Our specialist solicitors are at the forefront of industry knowledge to ensure we give you accurate, high-quality advice and the best possible chance of avoiding any issues as you pursue fertility treatment.
Our wide-ranging expertise includes advising upon donor conception and co-parenting. We advise on the legal parenthood status and can prepare known donor agreements and co-parenting agreements.
Clarion
Jane Ingleby
Elizabeth House
13 19 Queen Street
Leeds
LS1 2TW
+44 (0) 785 547 6998
Leeds based Clarion work with individuals across the UK and worldwide. Ranked Tier 1 in Legal 500 and Band 2 in Chambers, the team play a vital role in safeguarding your interests, whether financial, emotional or otherwise. Our expertise ensures everything is as smooth, straightforward and as painless as possible. We have extensive experience of supporting clients with surrogacy arrangements, always taking a caring and understanding approach so you can trust us to ensure the absolute best outcome for you. For international surrogacy, we can work with overseas lawyers to ensure that you have an understanding of any foreign laws and procedures as well as those in the UK.
Family Law in Partnership (FLiP)
Melbourne House
46 Aldwych
London
WC2B 4LL
+44 (0) 20 7420 5000
At FLiP we recognise that surrogacy involves so much more than simply a legal process. It can be a deeply emotional journey too. That is why you will benefit from the exceptional legal advice of our expert family lawyers together with the opportunity to work with our highly experienced relationship therapists who can address the emotional aspects of your surrogacy journey too. Whether you want someone with you every step of the way, or prefer advice as and when you need it, FLiP can assist.
Harper Macleod LLP
The Ca'd'oro
45 Gordon St
Glasgow
G1 3PE
Amanda Masson:
+44 (0) 14 1227 9394
Harper Macleod's Modern Families specialist service can advise on all areas of family law relating to donor-conceived children and children born by assisted reproduction. Appointments are available in each of Harper Macleod's offices, in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Lerwick and Thurso.
Amanda Masson is an expert in all aspects of child law including surrogacy, adoption and fertility law. Amanda is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Child Law. She has acted for numerous couples seeking to create a family via surrogacy and donor conception. Amanda has prepared child welfare reports for the Court in cases in which donor conception is a factor. She has written numerous articles on the legal aspects of family creation. Amanda seeks to support clients by being mindful of the emotional aspects while offering reliable, pragmatic advice on the legal nuances of all methods of family creation.
NGA Law
Supporting UK clients across the UK (with offices in London and Hampshire)
NGA Law was the UK’s first fertility law firm. Led by Natalie Gamble, the firm is the only one in the UK to specialise exclusively in fertility law and family law for non-traditional families and has unique experience of donor conception and surrogacy law, having worked with thousands of families and having handled most of the UK’s leading cases in this area. They are longstanding supporters of the Donor Conception Network, and have long been at the forefront of the law’s development (including fighting for legal rights for gay, lesbian and single parents conceiving through donor conception and surrogacy).
The firm’s free online Knowledge Centre is a widely used resource on donor conception and surrogacy law.
Osbornes Law
Livery House
9 Pratt Street
London
NW1 0AE
+44 (0) 20 7485 8811
Bridget Thompson:
Naomi Angell:
Osbornes Law has experience of dealing with a diverse range of issues surrounding donor conception and surrogacy.
Bridget Thompson and her family law team at Osbornes Law are able to advise intended birth parents, co-parents and donors on the legal issues. Our specialist team will advise on co-parenting agreements and parenthood following donor conception, both at a clinic, and on an informal basis.
Bridget’s team includes Naomi Angell, leading consultant; a specialist in surrogacy and fertility law.
Osbornes Law issued the leading case of A & Ors (Human Fertilisation And Embryology Act 2008) [2015] EWHC 2602 - the President of the Family Division granted declarations of parentage to couples where there were anomalies in the clinic records in relation to the parentage. She has extensive experience in dealing with matters following a family breakdown and disputes about childcare.
The firm has a number of mediators who can mediate in relation to co-parenting agreements as well as disputes between parents.
Osbornes Law is a major London law practice offering a range of specialist legal services.
Penningtons Manches Cooper
Linzi Bull
125 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7AW
+44 (0) 20 7457 3103
Our family law department offers the highest quality of support to our clients, stemming from the experience and talent of outstanding family lawyers who are nationally and internationally acknowledged as leaders in their field.
Linzi Bull, partner in the family team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, has developed a strong reputation in all areas of family law. In particular, she has a specialism in LBGT family issues, international surrogacy and is regularly involved in pre-conception agreements.
Recognised by both the main legal directories, Linzi has been described by The Legal 500 as ‘highly impressive’ with ‘terrific client skills.’ She is recommended in the Citywealth Leaders’ and Power Women Lists and was last year ranked by Spears as one of the top 50 UK family lawyers.
In 2019 Linzi joined the DCN Trustee board.
Stowe Family Law LLP
Parkway Court, Suite 22, Oxford House,
Pure Offices Ltd
John Smith Dr
Oxford
OX4 2JY
+44 (0) 18 6563 4646
Stowe Family Law are the largest specialist team of family lawyers in the UK. Our successful and compassionate team in Oxford handle a variety of cases including divorce, civil partnership dissolution, child custody and financial issues.
If you're planning on going through the process of surrogacy, our surrogacy law experts can help make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. They’ll be on hand throughout to help you understand the legal complexities, provide the information needed, ensure the necessary documentation is in place, and legal formalities are complied with.
The Modern Family Law Company
Suite 43, The Cartlodge
Lodge Park Business Centre
Lodge Lane
Colchester
CO4 5NE
+44 (0) 12 0623 3157
Deborah Baxter:
+44 (0) 79 0870 4412
Melissa Kelly:
+44 (0) 79 0870 3072
The Modern Family Law Company are a child focused law firm for modern families. We specialise in all aspects of children law, including family creation via all means. We have been set up to cater to all forms of modern families, with a focus on supporting the LGBT community. As a virtual firm we providing our clients with the ultimate in flexibility, providing you with access to specialist solicitors who themselves live within modern families, at a time and via means that fit around your life and from the comfort of your own home or from your desk, car or indeed even out on the move. We also have a unique offering to support your mental health and wellbeing, being able to call on our network of trusted partners who are specialists in the fields of counselling and wellbeing support. Modern legal services for modern families.
TV Edwards Solicitors LLP
Anest Mathias
35-37 Mile End Road
London
E1 4TP
+44 (0) 20 3440 8000
+44 (0) 20 3440 8049
TV Edwards has a large family department with a strong national reputation. Our solicitors are constructive, child focused, empathetic and sympathetic to the stress caused by fertility treatment.
Our modern parenting team’s expertise includes: legal parenthood; donor conception; surrogacy; co-parenting and adoption. We have advised patients where welfare of the child concerns have been raised and where patients have sought to use gametes post separation.
Anest Mathias is recognised as a leading individual in this field with many years of experience. She represented a husband in a declaration of parentage in a case reported in the national media where the wife had found a donor online. She represented the first patient to issue an application for a declaration of parentage following the discovery that the clinic did not hold the consents for her partner to become parent of their child conceived using donor sperm. This landmark case was reported as Re A and others (Legal Parenthood: Written Consents) [2015] EWHC 2602 (Fam). She is frequently consulted by intended parents, surrogates, donors and parents. Anest’s clients have been commended by judges for their sensible approach. She is regularly recommended by former clients and professional colleagues alike.
Our wider family law expertise includes child arrangements; child abduction; financial provision for spouses and children; divorce; cohabitation disputes; and protective injunctions.