Hanne & Co’s children practice is led by Emma Baillie, Michele Brown, and Andrew Spearman, who joined as partner and head of the modern families team in November 2024 from Laytons LLP. Spearman specialises in surrogacy, fertility law, and same-sex family disputes, and often advises on overlapping criminal and care proceedings. Baillie focuses on private law children matters, including arrangements for children, schooling decisions, and securing protective orders for clients facing domestic abuse. Michele Brown leads on public law proceedings, while Rokeya Dangor has expertise representing parents and children in complex care proceedings, including cases involving radicalisation and non-accidental injury. Anna Gowen advises on private law disputes involving abuse, and James Dunn has experience with international child abduction and wardship.
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Testimonials
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- ‘Andrew Spearman himself truly sets the standard. Andrew feels less like a “service provider” and more like a strategic ally—someone who invests in your family’s long‑term wellbeing. I have already recommended him to other LGBTQ+ parents, and will continue to do so, confident that his integrity, warmth and expertise deliver exceptional results every time.’
- 'The team is very strong when it comes to private children cases. Very organised, robust and thorough. The whole team, from the partners to the paralegals, are approachable, informed and intelligent.'
Work highlights
Acting on a matter, referred to the European Court of Human Rights, in which a trans man has challenged his registration as the mother on the birth certificate of his trial.
Practice head
Emma Baillie; Michele Brown; Andrew Spearman
Other key lawyers
Rokeya Dangor; Anna Gowen; James Dunn; Caroline Little; Elinor Feeny; Tash Fairweather; Sophie Sibley; Katherine Martyn; Claire Gardner