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Dorothea Gartland KC
‘Dorothea genuinely cares about the clients and achieving the best outcome in their case. Her tactical advice is exceptional.’
Chambers and Partners 2026
‘Dorothea is tenacious, her technical knowledge is superb, and the judges love her.’
Legal 500, 2026
Dorothea is a leading silk and specialist in the law in relation to children.
Her practice continues to involve cases with allegations of alienating behaviours and the emotional manipulation of children. She continues to be successful in re-estabishing direct contact through Court intervention for children and parents where there has been no contact for several years.
In private law work Dorothea is regularly instructed in cases involving the international and internal relocation of children and families and in situations arising from 1980 Hague Convention abduction proceedings and in wardship under the inherent jurisdiction of the High court.
In public law care proceedings Dorothea is instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, parents and most often on behalf of the children through their Children’s Guardian in the most serious types of proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, serious injury and honour based violence. She has a continuing interest in questions of the Court’s jurisdiction in public law cases with an international dimension.
Dorothea is a part time Judge on the South Eastern Circuit in Family law, private and public.
She is instructed to appear at all levels of court and has been involved in several cases in the Supreme Court.
Professional Memberships > >
Family Law Bar Association
Association of Lawyers for Children
Inner Temple
Private Children Law > >
Dorothea specialises in the law in relation to children. Over the last few years she has continued her particular interest in cases where there are allegations of alienating behaviours and alleged emotional manipulation of children.
Modern Families > >
Dorothea’s practice covers all areas of legal parenthood involving adoption, surrogacy and the legal recognition of parental status.
Dorothea represented Barts Health NHS Trust before the President of the Family Division in 2015 and in other cases involving the implementation of the HFEA 2008 legal parenthood provisions (the alphabet cases).
In surrogacy applications Dorothea represented the successful applicants in the case of Re F&M (Children) (Thai Surrogacy) (Enduring Family Relationship) in 2015 considered the definition of whether the applicants were in an ‘enduring relationship’ pursuant to s.54(2) of the HFEA 2008.
Later that year she was instructed as junior counsel for the Government in the case that determined s.54(1) and s.54(2) of the HFEA were incompatible with the rights of a father and his child leading to the introduction of s.54A of the HFEA 2008 which enabled a single person to apply for a parental order.
More recently Dorothea represented the successful applicants for a parental order before the President of the Family Division in AB (a child) [2024] EWFC 41 which established that the court does have jurisdiction to make a parental order despite the fact that the child is, as a matter of English law, already the adopted child of the applicants.
Over the last few years Dorothea has continued to represent young people and parents in cases involving disputed issues for treatment for gender dysphoria as set out in the cases of Re J (Transgender: Puberty Blocker and Hormone Replacement Therapy) [2024] EWHC 922 (Fam) and O v P & Anor (No.2) [2025] EWHC 718 (Fam).
International Children Law > >
Dorothea is regularly instructed in cases involving international and internal relocation of children and families and has experience of dealing with Hague and non-Hague jurisdictions on both temporary and permanent applications for removal from this jurisdiction.
Public Children Law > >
In public law care proceedings she is instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, parents and most often on behalf of the children through their Children’s Guardian in the most serious types of care proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, serious injury and honour based violence. She has a continuing particular interest in questions of the Court’s jurisdiction in public law cases with an international dimension.
Non-Court Dispute Resolution > >
Dorothea has experience as a mediator and is a strong supporter of non-court dispute resolution.
Court of Protection > >
Dorothea accepts instructions in this area and in circumstances where the court of protection and family court are both engaged.
Inquests and Inquiries > >
Dorothea welcomes the opportunity to work in this area.
Publications and Training > >
Provides regular training and updates to SW and to legal professionals. Please contact the clerks for further information and to discuss specific training requirements.
Directories > >
“Dorothea is committed, excellent and very generous with her time and knowledge. She’s outstanding.”
“No nonsense, always thoroughly prepared and someone who gets to the heart of the issue without fuss. She drives a case forward with focus and her advocacy is understated but devastating.”
“She manages clients’ expectations in very difficult circumstances and is also listened to by judges.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
‘Dorothea is a forceful advocate and makes robust arguments. Her advice is direct and pragmatic, remaining focused on the key points and cutting through to the central issues in the case.’
Legal 500, 2025
“Dorothea is always fully prepared and an attractive advocate. She puts her case forward very ably but also in a moderate, effective way.”
“Her technical knowledge and advocacy are second to none, and are combined with excellent client care.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Dorothea is always loved and trusted by clients. Her down-to-earth manner is refreshing and puts clients at ease. She is excellent in court. She is tenacious and will fight her client’s corner to the bitter end.’
Legal 500, 2024
“Very good on private law children and modern family surrogacy matters, she’s adept at handling the technical points of law and cross-examination. She has a subtle, understated and effective style.”
“Very authoritative and a wonderful advocate.
Chambers and Partners, 2023
‘Dorothea is extraordinarily intuitive with clients, wise as to outcomes and solutions and a great lawyer. She is a constructive but tough opponent, dedicated and persistent, determined to ensure every effort is made to find the right solution.’
Legal 500, 2023
Top Tier
“An effective advocate who brings real empathy to cases and has a razor-sharp knowledge of the law.” “She is forensic and dedicated to understanding bundles. Her cross-examination is calm, measured, thoughtful and incisive.” “Her technical knowledge is excellent. She is always meticulously prepared, supportive of both solicitors and clients, and amazing on her feet.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
Band 1
‘ Committed and tenacious. An outstanding advocate. ’
Legal 500,2022
Top Tier
Private and public law practitioner focusing on complex children issues, domestically and abroad. She is active in matters involving the international movement of children, and has particular experience in surrogacy and jurisdictional dispute work.
Strengths: “An utter pleasure to work with and a true team player. Her written submissions are outstanding, and she is incredibly committed to her cases.” “A calm, measured, professional and reassuring advocate.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
Band 1
‘Is just cleverer than anyone else in the room – and yet there’s no pomposity. She is incisive and, whilst mastering detail, is able to stand back from it to see the essentials of a case.’
Legal 500, 2021
Top Tier
Private and public law practitioner focusing on complex children issues, domestically and abroad. She is active in matters involving the international movement of children, and has particular experience in surrogacy and jurisdictional dispute work.
Strengths: “She always thinking about what’s going to work for her clients once she’s in the courtroom. Everything she does is focused on not just getting what her client wants, but also what’s going to improve their lives.” “Meticulous, and someone with good judgement, she’s very good at driving points home and she presents them in an extraordinarily persuasive way.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
Band 1
‘Is understated and polite in her advocacy which hides the deadly questions.’
Legal 500, 2020
Top Tier
Private and public law lawyer focusing on complex children issues, domestically and abroad. She is particularly active in matters involving the international movement of children, and has a growing reputation in surrogacy and jurisdictional dispute work.
Strengths: “She is an exceptional barrister, who takes on a brief and immediately seems to alleviate the anxieties of her client. Her comprehensive knowledge, finely tuned empathy and pragmatic judgement allow her to swiftly get to the heart of a complex issue, and more often than not she finds a resolution to problems.”
Chambers & Partners 2019
‘An excellent advocate but thoroughly modest with it.’
Legal 500, 2019
Private and public law lawyer focusing on complex children issues, domestically and abroad. She is noted in particular for her expertise in cases involving issues of parentage. She has a growing reputation in surrogacy and jurisdictional dispute work.
Strengths: “Dorothea Gartland inspires confidence in clients and comes across as a kind and caring individual. She really does the absolute best for all her clients and does everything she can to win the case.”
Chambers & Partners 2018
‘She has an incredible eye for detail.’
Legal 500, 2017
Private and public law lawyer focusing on complex children issues, domestically and abroad. She is noted in particular for her expertise in cases involving issues of parentage.
Strengths: “She is a tenacious advocate who readily gets to grips with tricky, gritty cases. She is particularly recommended for her work with alternative family structures.”
Recent work: Represented the intervener Health Trust Barts in a case in which the applicant sought a declaration of parentage that he was the father of the child his partner had conceived at a fertility clinic.
Chambers & Partners 2017
‘She has a human touch while being professional and formidable in court.’
The Legal 500, 2016
‘She is extremely diligent, getting immediately stuck into heavyweight, complex cases.’
The Legal 500, 2015
‘A safe pair of hands in heavyweight, demanding and complex cases.’ Recommended as a Leading Junior in the area of Child Law
The Legal 500, 2014
Recommended as a Leading Junior in the area of Child Law
The Legal 500, 2013
Dorothea Gartland possesses ‘considerable intellectual acumen, and is extremely thorough’.
The Legal 500, 2012