Mishcon de Reya LLP’s children law practice advises on high-conflict private law disputes, international relocations, and surrogacies. The team is led by Kate Clark, a specialist in matters involving allegations of alienating behaviour and neurodiversity. Sandra Davis focuses on complex children's work, including allegations of abuse. Barbara Reeves has extensive experience in international and public law children matters with particular expertise in safeguarding, leave to remove, and contact disputes. Antonia Felix leads the firm’s surrogacy and modern families group, whose practice spans international and domestic surrogacy, donor conception, assisted reproduction, adoption, and complex education-related disputes. Claire Yorke and Clare Radcliffe both focus on high-conflict and multi-jurisdictional matters, including allegations of abuse and involvement of social services. The team also includes James Rees, who has a particular interest in cases involving the Middle East, and Alice Mantle, who specialises in surrogacy and relocation cases.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘James Rees is so adept at dealing with UHNW families. He offers unrivalled client care, brilliant attention to detail, and superb strategic oversight. Kate Clark is highly respected amongst other lawyers and judges, a great litigator. Sandra Davis is the original Queen Bee of family law. She is a brilliant strategist. She fights her clients’ cases with passion and tremendous skill. Harriet Gibson is a rising star of the family law world.’

  • ‘Jessica Johnson is a calm and reassuring presence while being excellent at her job. Dan Beattie has a fabulous manner with clients. James Rees is a technically astute and able partner. Alice Mantle is a friendly and calming associate who understands how to run cases well.'

  • ‘Antonia Felix is a fantastic lawyer who is able to cut through difficult surrogacy cases.'

  • 'Alice Mantle has a forensic eye for detail and is well placed to deal with complex international surrogacy cases. George Irving has great client care skills and has increasing experience dealing with complex parenthood cases arising in modern families.'
  • ‘Choosing to work with Kate Clark was one of the most important and impactful decisions I made. Kate is not only an exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable lawyer, but she brings with her a team that operates with the same dedication, professionalism, and attention to detail. She consistently goes above and beyond what is expected, ensuring that every decision is carefully explained, every possible outcome is considered, and that I always felt supported and informed throughout the process. I cannot recommend Kate Clark and her team at Mishcon de Reya highly enough. They are, quite simply, exceptional.'

  • ‘Kate Clark runs a fantastic team of lawyers who provide second-to-none advice.’

Work highlights

Acting for parents seeking a parental order in respect of a Ukrainian surrogacy amidst the outbreak of war.
Representing a mother in a case involving a child with disabilities and serious allegations of abuse.
Acting for the father in a case with cross-border elements and addiction issues.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

Kate Clark

Other key lawyers

Sandra Davis; Barbara Reeves; Claire Yorke; Antonia Felix; James Rees; Dan Beattie; Clare Radcliffe; Alice Mantle; Jessica Johnson; Harriet Gibson; George Irving