Practice Areas
- Court of Protection - Vulnerable Adult
- Inquests and Inquiries
- International Children Law
- Private Children Law
- Public Children Law
Direct Access
Awards
‘An expert on surrogacy and the modern family. Andrew’s preparation is stellar – his notes show a mastery of the law and facts. Judges hang on his advocacy, which balances persuasion with an empathy for the cases he deals with.’
Legal 500, 2024
Experience
Year of Call: 2008
Education
University of Manchester (BSocSc Social Anthropology First Class)
University of Leeds (LLM)
BPP Law School (BVC)
Pegasus Scholarship
Bedingfield Scholarship (Gray’s Inn)
Consitutional Law Essay Prize (University of Leeds)
The Professor Max Gluckman Prize (University of Manchester – Awarded for Highest First Class Degree)
Profile
Andrew is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. 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 is an experienced trial advocate who regularly appears against silks.
He has developed a niche practice representing parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption.
Andrew also appears in public law cases, including those with complex medical evidence and allegations of sexual abuse. He is regularly instructed in public law cases where there is an international element and public law cases arising from high conflict private law disputes.
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. He is also the editor of the domestic adoption chapter in Rayden and Jackson.
He has been a Governing Board Member of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory since 2021 and is a member of the Steering Group for the Bar Council’s 10,000 Black Interns Programme.
In 2024 Andrew was shortlisted by Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards in the category of Diversity and Inclusion: Future Leader. He was also shortlisted as International Family Lawyer of the Year in the 2024 Family Law Awards.
Outside work, Andrew enjoys running and cycling.
International Children Law
Andrew regularly represents parents and children in child abduction cases, both Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention cases, or where there is a risk of wrongful removal of a child from this jurisdiction. He also has experience representing family members in a broad spectrum of wardship cases (including committals), as well as cases concerning vulnerable adults, such as stranded spouses and FGM cases.
In international surrogacy cases, Andrew represents intended parents and children, often when there is a legal complexity establishing parental status in this jurisdiction.
He represents parents in international relocation cases and welcomes working collaboratively with instructing solicitors from the outset.
Public Children Law
Andrew has a strong background in public law proceedings and represents local authorities, parents, children and other interested parties.
He has experience representing parties where there are allegations of non-accidental injury and fabricated or induced illness and has developed an expertise in cases where there is an international element. He appeared as junior counsel representing a family member in A & Others (Care Proceedings: 1996 Hague Convention: Habitual Residence) [2024] EWFC.
He has appeared on behalf of children and parents in high conflict private law disputes that later enter the public law area.
Private Children Law
Andrew has vast experience in all aspects of domestic private law cases representing both parents and children in applications for child arrangements orders, including where one parent seeks to relocate internally.
His background in public law proceedings means that he is well placed to deal with contentious private law disputes that require a forensic approach. He is regularly instructed in cases where a separate fact-finding hearing might be required or cross examination of expert witnesses.
Andrew is well known in the field of surrogacy and adoption (domestic and international) and is regarded as one of the country’s leading experts in this area.
He has experience of being instructed in cases arising out of LGBTQ+ family disputes that may require a creative legal solution. Many of his cases involve recognition of parental status, such as those where an application for a declaration of parentage has been made or step-parent adoptions (e.g. Re H (Surrogacy: Step-parent adoption) [2023] EWFC).
Andrew is instructed in medical treatment cases and has experience in cases concerning transgender children and the administration of puberty blockers. He appeared as junior counsel in AB v CD & Others [2021] EWHC 741 (Fam) on behalf the hospital trust and in Re J (Transgender: Puberty Blocker and Hormone Replacement Therapy) [2024] EWHC 922 (Fam) on behalf of the respondent mother.
Inquests and Public Inquiries
From 2016-2020 Andrew was led by Alex Verdan KC and Cleo Perry KC representing a core participant in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Children in the care of Lambeth Council investigation). He was also led by Cleo Perry KC representing a core participant in a second investigation, also as part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks investigation).
He has significant experience collaborating responses to Rule 9 requests.
Court of Protection
Andrew has experience representing parties in cases concerning deprivation of liberty and best interests in the Court of Protection and has experience being instructed by the Official Solicitor.
Non-court dispute resolution
Andrew has experience representing parents before Arbitrators in private law disputes.
Professional Memberships
Gray’s Inn
Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children
Court of Protection Bar Association
Associate member of the American Bar Association (Family law section)
Child Abduction Lawyers Association
JUSTICE
Directories
“Andrew is a wise, considered, knowledgeable and empathetic barrister.”
“Andrew will go that extra mile and is also most generous with his time.”
“A lawyer who has a brilliant manner with clients; he’s very approachable and nothing is too much trouble.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘An expert on surrogacy and the modern family. Andrew’s preparation is stellar – his notes show a mastery of the law and facts. Judges hang on his advocacy, which balances persuasion with an empathy for the cases he deals with.’
Legal 500, 2024
“Andrew Powell has an incredible brain and superb client skills. He is a phenomenal advocate for clients.”
“He is a number-one choice for any matter related to surrogacy, what he doesn’t know about surrogacy law isn’t worth knowing.”
“Andrew is always able to cut through difficult cases and make them seem straightforward with his huge wealth of experience and calm approach.”
“He is wonderful on every level – adored by solicitors, clients and judges alike.”
“He is known for being at the cutting edge of surrogacy and alternative family work.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
‘Andrew is a highly talented barrister with excellent core talents. He is insightful, knowledgeable, great communicator with excellent people skills.’
Legal 500, 2023
“A persuasive, personable advocate and cross-examiner who is a calm presence in court.” “He’s got an absolutely encyclopedic knowledge of surrogacy law, but puts it in a way that’s accessible. His written and oral submissions are things of beauty.” “He exudes charm and remains calm under pressure.”
Recent work: Represented the London Borough of Lambeth in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Chambers & Partners, 2022