Andrew is an experienced family law practitioner with a specialism in Surrogacy & Fertility law and financial disputes on marital breakdown involving company and trust structures. He became a Partner at Laytons in 2019 and is Head of the Family Team, ensuring the highest quality of service and client care for each client.

In 2019, he was identified as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 team for his work in the field of surrogacy law and parenthood. As a consequence of his extensive work, seminars and involvement with surrogacy charities, he is recognised both as a leader in his field and as having an ability to give practical, proportionate solutions to complex problems.

Andrew has comprehensive experience in helping resolve complex financial disputes on divorce and dissolution, particularly those involving family company assets and /or trusts. He advises High Net Worth individuals and international clients on their family affairs, and is described by clients as working tirelessly to resolve matters for clients while empathetic to their situation.

While it is always preferable for parents to reach agreement between themselves about arrangements for their children, it is not always so clean-cut. Formerly known as custody battles, Andrew helps couples both at a local and high court level in disputes about where children should live and how much time should be spent with each parent, as well as international relocation cases and urgent injunctions.

Andrew is described as empathetic and professional by his clients and is recommended for his ability to calmly navigate those difficult waters and give sensible, child focused advice while at the same time as being tough when it matters.

Andrew is best known for his work in the Surrogacy law, having represented clients in the High Court on various matters and advancing case-law to become outcome focused for the best interests of the child, intended parents and surrogate alike. His experience has focused on difficulties with domicile, reasonable expenses and the issue of separated intended parents seeking a Parental Order.

Andrew frequently sits on professional panels to advocate for further reforms and is currently engaging with the Law Commission for England & Wales about their proposed changes. In addition, he advises domestic and international organisations, charities and government departments on surrogacy law in the UK to advance understanding and support in the sector. Although science has made considerable advances, Andrew is a leading expert in trying to ensure the law keeps pace.

In advising both clinics and individuals, Andrew has retained a balanced portfolio of knowledge in the wider field of fertility law and practice. Incorrect compliance or an absence of the correct procedure can lead to parentage being questioned or challenged in the future. He is therefore regularly relied on to provide legal certificates of advice, compliance with HFEA regulation and understanding gamete/embryo storage or international transfer.

Andrew is routinely in the High Court on behalf of his clients, dealing with more complex child arrangements or parenthood issues. Example of his reported cases in the High Court & Court of Appeal include:

• Y & Anor. v V & Ors [2022] EWFC 120

• Re Z (No 1 Fact Finding) [2021] EWHC 3839 (Fam)

• Re Z (No 2 Welfare) [2021] EWHC 3840 (Fam) 

• R (oao Freddy McConnell v General Registrar for England & Wales [2020] EWCA Civ 559)

• N (Surrogacy: Enduring Family Relationship; Child's Home) [2019] EWFC 21

• B (Surrogacy: Adoption and Parental Responsibility) [2018] EWFC 86

• M v F (Travel to Non-Convention Country) [2017] EWFC 7

• Re M (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 2164

• JV [2014] EWHC 4756 (Fam)

• H (Surrogacy:  Step-parent adoption) [2023] EWFC 214

Appointments & Memberships

• My Surrogacy Journey, Advisory Board Member

• Director of a Multi-Academy Trust in Kent (2014 to present)

• Appointment by the Secretary of State for Education in 2014 as the Chair of an Interim Executive Board

• Member of Resolution (2012 to present)

• Member of the UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute (2014 to present)

• Surrogacy UK Ethics Committee Member (2018 to present)
   

Published articles

• July 2021 Journal of Medical Ethics on surrogacy on decision-making crisis

Contact details
Tel: +44 0207 842 8000
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Qualifications
Qualified as a Solicitor in 2012

Recommendations

“an outstanding litigator who has no difficulty managing a case where there are complex jurisdictional and parentage issue.” – Legal 500 UK 2019

Memberships

Expertise