Ep13; The Law Commissions recommendations digested with a difference ft. the wonderful Barrister Andrew Powell and notorious Surrogacy expert and family lawyer, Andrew Spearman.
11/06/23 • 37 min
My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.
Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.
Today’s episode takes a light hearted and interesting viewpoint of what can be a monotonous and rather dull topic, especially given the exposure of it this year. I feel like we're all talked out! However, this episode looks into some of the more undiscussed areas of the The Commissions recommendations for future surrogacy laws in the UK. Wes chats to two experts, Andrew Powell, Barrister at 4PB and Andrew Spearman Partner and Head of Family Team at Laytons ETL Global. We explore all the avenues of the bill and ask the question, can we even see this current Conservative government even taking forward the law commissions recommendations?
Our wonderful guests tell us all more about whether they agree with the proposals and what was the most disappointing discovery with the final proposal - listen to find out more.
Guest bios:
Andrew Spearman, Partner and Head of Family Law
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 Powell, Barrister.
Andrew is a family law barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 based at 4PB, a leading specialist family law barristers’ chambers based in central London.
He is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was recently described in Chambers and Partners as having “..an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of surrogacy law”.
His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.
Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy.
My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.
Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.
Today’s episode takes a light hearted and interesting viewpoint of what can be a monotonous and rather dull topic, especially given the exposure of it this year. I feel like we're all talked out! However, this episode looks into some of the more undiscussed areas of the The Commissions recommendations for future surrogacy laws in the UK. Wes chats to two experts, Andrew Powell, Barrister at 4PB and Andrew Spearman Partner and Head of Family Team at Laytons ETL Global. We explore all the avenues of the bill and ask the question, can we even see this current Conservative government even taking forward the law commissions recommendations?
Our wonderful guests tell us all more about whether they agree with the proposals and what was the most disappointing discovery with the final proposal - listen to find out more.
Guest bios:
Andrew Spearman, Partner and Head of Family Law
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 Powell, Barrister.
Andrew is a family law barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 based at 4PB, a leading specialist family law barristers’ chambers based in central London.
He is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was recently described in Chambers and Partners as having “..an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of surrogacy law”.
His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.
Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy.
My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Part 2; Ep14 - Continuing our fascinating talk with our legal experts and special guests Andrew Powell (Barrister) and Andrew Spearman (Partner and Surrogacy expert)
My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.
Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.
It's part 2; check out what's coming up!
Did you listen to last weeks episode about the The Law Commissions recommendations for future surrogacy laws in the UK. Well this week we dive into expenses and talk about the implications of the new recommendations. Wes chats to two experts, Andrew Powell, Barrister at 4PB and Andrew Spearman Partner and Head of Family Team at Laytons ETL Global. We explore all the avenues of the bill and ask the question, can we even see this current Conservative government even taking forward the law commissions recommendations?
Our wonderful guests tell us all more about whether they agree with the proposals and what was the most disappointing discovery with the final proposal - listen to find out more.
Guest bios:
Andrew Spearman, Partner and Head of Family Law
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 Powell, Barrister.
Andrew is a family law barrister called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2008 based at 4PB, a leading specialist family law barristers’ chambers based in central London.
He is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was recently described in Chambers and Partners as having “..an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of surrogacy law”.
His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.
Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy.
My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Coming up on Ep15; The Clinic; A surrogates journey
My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.
Trigger warning; Pregnancy Loss is discussed in this podcast
Michael and Wes are your hosts, and as parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.
Coming up!! Check back in next week for the full episode.
Our wonderful guests, Debbie, Hayley and Kay tell you about the highs and lows of fertility treatment and surrogacy, and how you can learn from their thoughtful advice.
Guest bios:
Debbie Evans RGN
Director of Clinical Services/ Registered Manager to CQC/ Centre Manager
Debbie qualified as an RGN in 1985. She specialised for 20+ years in fertility management and has been with the Herts & Essex Fertility Centre since 2007. As Director of Clinical Services, Debbie takes ownership of the day-to-day clinical management of the Centre, with direct responsibility for 40+ members of staff. Her senior role has not changed her approach or work ethos: she is as passionate about patient care as when she first joined the nursing profession.
Kay King
Kay King joined the MSJ family from September 2023 as the MSJ Foundation Director, working 4 days a week within the core team.
Kay comes to MSJ from a background in reproductive health and rights charity leadership and has for the last 6 years been leading White Ribbon Alliance UK to advance the rights of women and girls and gender diverse people across the globe. She is a skilled fundraiser, campaigner and project manager for charity and community sector work.
Kay is a queer woman with two of her own children, she is based in Devon and is currently on a surrogacy journey of her own having matched with an incredible pair of intended parents through MSJ.
Kay has a strong vision for the MSJ Foundation, which will seek to support and compliment the activity of our other initiatives by ensuring that the rights of people wishing to make families are supported through education, advancements in rights, supportive communities and robust research into fertility and reproductive justice.
Hayley Aldis
Hayley is a single mum of 2 girls, and gestational surrogate. She has been a surrogate for 2 set of IP’s. Combined, her surrogacy experiences have taught her strength, empathy and compassion, but above all a hope and resilience that she now sees in every intended parent she talks with. Outside of surrogacy, Hayley works for a Primary Teacher Training Provider; she’s passionate about education and the research and evidence base that surrounds it. She spends her spare time walking along the seafront trying to beat her step count, eating out (if the step count allows) and enjoying a good box set with a glass of wine in hand.
My Surrogacy Journey is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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