Andrew Spearman

Andrew is an experienced family law practitioner with a specialism in Surrogacy & Fertility law and financial disputes on marital breakdown involving company and trust structures.   He became a Partner at Laytons in 2019 and is Head of the London Family Team, ensuring the highest quality of service and client care for each client.

In 2019, he was identified as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 team for his work in the field of surrogacy law and parenthood.   As a consequence of his extensive work, seminars and involvement with surrogacy charities, he is recognised both as a leader in his field and as having an ability to give practical, proportionate solutions to complex problems.

Family Finance on Divorce

Andrew has comprehensive experience in helping resolve complex financial disputes on divorce and dissolution, particularly those involving family company assets and /or trusts.  He advises High Net Worth individuals and international clients on their family affairs, and is described by clients as working tirelessly to resolve matters for clients while empathetic to their situation.

Child Arrangement Disputes

While it is always preferable for parents to reach agreement between themselves about arrangements for their children, it is not always so clean-cut.  Formerly known as custody battles, Andrew helps couples both at a local and high court level in disputes about where children should live and how much time should be spent with each parent, as well as international relocation cases and urgent injunctions.

Andrew is described as empathetic and professional by his clients and is recommended for his ability to calmly navigate those difficult waters and give sensible, child focused advice while at the same time as being tough when it matters.

Surrogacy

Andrew is best known for his work in the Surrogacy law, having represented clients in the High Court on various matters and advancing case-law to become outcome focused for the best interests of the child, intended parents and surrogate alike.  His experience has focused on difficulties with domicile, reasonable expenses and the issue of separated intended parents seeking a Parental Order.

Andrew frequently sits on professional panels to advocate for further reforms and is currently engaging with the Law Commission for England & Wales about their proposed changes.  In addition, he advises domestic and international organisations, charities and government departments on surrogacy law in the UK to advance understanding and support in the sector.  Although science has made considerable advances, Andrew is a leading expert in trying to ensure the law keeps pace.

Fertility Law

In advising both clinics and individuals, Andrew has retained a balanced portfolio of knowledge in the wider field of fertility law and practice. Incorrect compliance or an absence of the correct procedure can lead to parentage being questioned or challenged in the future.  He is therefore regularly relied on to provide legal certificates of advice, compliance with HFEA regulation and understanding gamete/ embryo storage or international transfer.