Family/Children Law: Cross-Border Disputes
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7242 2556Chambers Review
Dawson Cornwell is a preeminent firm for international disputes concerning children, including leave to remove and international abduction cases relating to jurisdictions around the world. The team also has expertise in cross-border matters relating to surrogacy and adoption agreements. It can further advise on disputes concerning domestic child arrangements, often in cases where domestic abuse is alleged.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"This team is one of the best towork with. Their cases are well-prepared, clients are properly advised and they are always happy and prepared to discuss case strategy with counsel."
"The team is superb, showing empathy and compassion, and are fierce to defend their clients. They are always present, go the extra mile, give excellent advice and anticipate all outcomes."
"Dawson Conwell have been and will continue to be the best firm for international disputes."
"They provide an excellent response especially in urgent child abduction cases."
"This team is one of the best towork with. Their cases are well-prepared, clients are properly advised and they are always happy and prepared to discuss case strategy with counsel."
"The team is superb, showing empathy and compassion, and are fierce to defend their clients. They are always present, go the extra mile, give excellent advice and anticipate all outcomes."
"Dawson Conwell have been and will continue to be the best firm for international disputes."
"They provide an excellent response especially in urgent child abduction cases."
Notable Practitioners
Carolina Marín Pedreño is head of the firm's children department and has a wealth of international expertise including leave to remove matters and cross-border abduction cases. As a native Spanish speaker who is dual-qualified in Spain and England and Wales, she frequently advises clients on cases concerning Spain and Latin American jurisdictions.
"Her level of knowledge of international child abduction law is encyclopaedic and her insight and tactics first-rate."
"Carolina Marín Pedreño is one of the top child abduction lawyers in the UK. She is very well-connected and knowledgeable."
"Carolina's experience is considerable and she is a guiding hand in ensuring the major cases in which she is involved run right. She is an innovator."
"She is the solicitor everyone wants for international child abduction cases. She is not only committed to private children law work, but an expert in dealing with a whole range of vulnerable clients."
"Carolina is a very experienced solicitor in surrogacy and international cases. She is a good tactician who always has good ideas regarding the direction of the case."
Hilka Hollmann has a wealth of expertise in cross-border disputes concerning children. She is well known for representing parents in relocation disputes and international abduction cases, as well as matters pertaining to international adoption and surrogacy.
"Hilka is a particular expert in international adoption. She is extremely approachable and hard-working and she goes the extra mile for her clients."
"Hilka is knowledgeable and an expert at what she does."
Sulema Jahangir advises on a huge range of cross-border disputes, including relocation and abduction cases, wardship disputes and forced marriage orders. She is especially notable for her experience in matters involving Pakistani family law and is qualified as an Advocate of the High Courts in Pakistan.
"Sulema works tirelessly on behalf of her clients and her passion for her works makes her stand out."
"She is the go-to solicitor for vulnerable clients abroad."
"She has tremendous drive and is a very impressive character."
Forum Shah is building a strong practice as a children law specialist, with growing experience in cross-border cases. She assists clients with regard to child relocation and abduction to jurisdictions around the world including in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
"Forum Shah is one of the most dedicated and hard working lawyers I know. You know if you get a case from her that it's going to be immaculately prepared."
"Forum is a Hauge Convention specialist and pre-eminent in this field."
"Forum is a genius who will think about a case, plot out a strategy and will invariably get it spot on."