Previously a partner at Clyde & Co and before that at specialist family law firm Dawson Cornwell, Colin has a wealth of experience in all areas of children law. With particular expertise in fertility law including surrogacy, assisted reproduction, donor conception, co-parenting and adoption, he will bring additional strength and depth to Mills & Reeve's successful children and fertility practice.
In addition to his work in fertility law, Colin is also highly experienced in international children proceedings including child abduction, international relocation and jurisdictional disputes. He has vast experience working on applications to the High Court, undertakes most of his own advocacy as a solicitor advocate, and has considerable experience of appeals including to the Court of Appeal, UK Supreme Court, and the European Court of Human Rights.
Colin is one of only three UK fellows of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, and has been since 2018 when he was believed to be the youngest fellow admitted to the academy. He is also an active member of the American Bar Association and Assisted Reproductive Technology committee.
When asked by legal directory Legal 500, sources described Colin as: “an expert in international surrogacy cases, with an encyclopedic knowledge of law and practice in this field, and a meticulous approach to tactics” and as “the surrogacy guru. He knows the law inside out. He is hugely respected, not just by judges and lawyers in this jurisdiction, but also internationally.”
Colin has recently been shortlisted for international family lawyer of the year at this year’s Family Law Awards, further showcasing his huge wealth of expertise in this area of law.
Zoe Fleetwood, head of children law at Mills & Reeve, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Colin has decided to bring his covetable children practice to Mills & Reeve. Together with Rose-Marie Drury and Amy Starnes, who have a number of reported cases in fertility law, our children law team consolidate their knowledge in this specialist area. With a broad range of service areas, across seven offices, Mills & Reeve is able to support clients across a wide range of family law and related issues. Colin's hire deepens the extent of our children offering.'
Colin added: “I am excited for this opportunity. Mills & Reeve has an exceptional national family law team and already has expertise in the specialist fertility law. I look forward to working with colleagues across all offices to provide the top levels of service that clients expect and are used to receiving from Mills & Reeve.”
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