Five members of chambers appeared in the matter of Re J (A child) (Surrogacy: Adoption Order) [2025] EWHC 2960 which was published today.

Ms Justice Henke stated that the case was a cautionary tale of ‘what can go wrong when strangers who meet through social media to bring a child into this world through surrogacy and when one or more of the parties take risks around the circumstances of conception’. 

Louise MacLynn KC and Melissa Elsworth acted for the applicants pro bono (instructed by Victoria Maxwell of Edward Cooke Family Law), Edward Flood acted for the paternal grandmother pro bono (instructed by Tom Trim, Osbornes Law solicitors) and Sharon Segal KC and Niamh Daly acted on behalf of the child, through their children’s guardian (instructed by Amy Chapman, Russell-Cooke solicitors).

The full judgment is available below.