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23 July 2024

Pitfalls of overseas surrogacy – Sarah Williams for BBC London News

Sarah Williams, specialist modern family lawyer and Partner in the Family Department at Payne Hicks Beach, was interviewed by BBC London about the complexities of overseas surrogacy arrangements in light of a couple battling to bring their surrogate born daughter back to the UK from Belarus. Sarah advises, “You have to really take advice when looking at surrogacy overseas because there is no international harmonisation. So, you may have a surrogate child over there; you may be registered on the birth certificate over there; but it won’t be recognised over here.”

To read more about how the difficulties this family face in bringing their daughter home see the article first published at the BBC online on 18 July 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm528vv490go


Sarah is a specialist lawyer focusing on complex international surrogacy, fertility and modern family law, in addition to having extensive experience in all children related litigation. Sarah is part of the firm’s top ranked Family department that focuses on providing specialist advice on all areas of family law, including issues arising from divorce and separationcohabitationcivil partnerships and same sex marriagefinancial consequences of a relationship breakdowninheritance claims and pre and post-nuptial agreements. The team works for a variety of high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including those with a complex international angle and is adept at handling all cases with the utmost discretion whilst delivering the best outcome for their clients. Clients highly value the team’s exceptional level of service, astute financial acumen and unparalleled levels of support and is recognised across the industry as one of the best family teams in the UK, having won ‘Family Law Team of the Year’ at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2024.

For further information, please contact Sarah Williams, Partner and modern family law and children lawyer in the Family Department or, alternatively, telephone on 020 7465 4300

To learn more about Modern Family Law visit our dedicated webpage and download a free copy of our Essential Guide to Modern Family here.

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Sarah Williams
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