International Adoption

Leading Intercountry Adoption Lawyers

We advice a range of clients who wish to adopt a child from another country. Clients include British families living in UK, ex-pat families who have adopted a child whilst living abroad now wish to return to the UK and foreign national living in the UK who wish to adopt a child whilst living here.

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  • “Osbornes has incredible strength in depth across every area of family law, from public law children and child abduction proceedings, through to adoption and surrogacy, and private client work”

  • “Naomi has a depth of knowledge in issues relating to surrogacy and adoption as well as matters in which immigration status is a factor.”

Intercountry adoption is a complex and highly specialist area of law. The service that we offer includes:

  • General advice to families considering international adoption, and bringing a child back to the UK. Our clients include British families living here, ex-patriot British nationals wishing to return to the UK with their adopted child in the future, and foreign nationals (EU or non EU nationals) living in this country and wishing to adopt internationally while they are here.
  • Advice on the duties and actions of local authorities or other adoption agencies in relation to international adoptions, including the assessment process. Our clients include families with concerns about the adoption assessment process either in relation to an adoption agency or the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF), prospective adopters seeking advice on appealing against a negative adoption agency assessment to the national review body, the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) and families needing advice on the complex procedures and regulations required for Hague Convention or other international adoptions.
  • Representing adopters in adoption proceedings in the courts in this country, where the foreign adoption is not recognised by the UK and it is necessary to re-adopt here.
  • Advising and representing prospective adopters wishing to take a child out of this country for adoption elsewhere, either where the child is in local authority care or as a result of a private family arrangement for adoption abroad.
  • Advising relatives of a child abroad who may have been abandoned, orphaned or gifted for adoption in this country. These cases are particularly complex because of additional immigration issues.
  • Advising and representing step-parents who have married a foreign national who has a child by a previous relationship where it is wished that the child should become a full member of the new family with British citizenship.
  • Providing specialist legal opinions for lawyers, local authorities and adoption agencies either here or abroad on the law relating to international adoption in this country, including expert opinions for immigration lawyers for use in immigration Appeal Tribunals and otherwise in the immigration process.

Our adoption lawyers have developed useful relationships with specialist immigration solicitors and counsel and work closely with them in these children’s cases where immigration issues also need to be addressed. Naomi Angell also lectures to immigration lawyers on international family law issues.

Contact our Adoption Lawyers Today

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you






    • Naomi Angell has considerable strength in adoption, surrogacy and fertility issues

      Legal 500 2023

    • Naomi Angell is a renowned practitioner in the market with a wealth of experience in family cases involving immigration issues. She has a depth of knowledge in surrogacy issues and is respected for her experience handling adoption matters.

      Chambers UK 2023

    • "She is responsive and very knowledgeable – she knows everything on the family law side of adoption and is also very generous with her time."

      Chambers UK 2023

    • "Naomi is second to none in her knowledge of adoption and her work in surrogacy is also a strength."

      Chambers UK 2023

    • "She has an encyclopaedic knowledge and an in-depth understanding of this work. She's extremely empathetic and can put herself in the client's shoes. She's also very strategic and is good at pre-empting litigation."

      Chambers UK 2023

    • "Their family department is very strong, from adoption to child abduction and matrimonial finance, this is a very strong team."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "Naomi Angell is a stand out individual who is well regarded as to the go-to lawyer in her field. What Naomi doesn’t know about adoption is not worth knowing."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "She is the queen of inter-country adoption. She is experienced in the field over a long period of time. She has wonderful client skills and is committed to getting proper outcomes."

      Chambers UK 2022

    • "She is an adoption superstar. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of immigration law, and knows what's on the horizon due to her involvement in policy."

      Chambers UK 2022

    • Naomi Angell – the doyenne of adoption and surrogacy family law, dedicated to her clients and hardworking.

      Legal 500 2022

    • The team has considerable strength in adoption, surrogacy and fertility matters through Naomi Angell.

      Legal 500 2022

    • "Highly recommended
      Bridget and Amy-Jo were very supportive during what were very stressful proceedings. They were collaborative and I felt listened to and part of a team rather than just a client. We ended up being successful at the hearing."

      Client review

    • "She's extremely knowledgeable and highly professional."

      Chambers UK 2021

    • "She is the guru when it comes to international adoption and she's an expert in her field."

      Chambers UK 2021

    • Naomi Angell has a vast wealth of knowledge and experience.

      Legal 500 2020 - Naomi Angell

    • "Naomi Angell is a highly esteemed practitioner who is highlighted as "a leader in the field" and "extremely knowledgeable" by interviewees. She is particularly recognised for her experience in complex adoption disputes."

      Chambers UK

    • Bridget Thompson is a public law specialist noted for her extensive practice in matters involving alternative families and adoption. An interviewee observes: "She's a fighter, she's clever, and she understands all aspects of a case."

      Chambers UK

    • "Naomi Angell is a leading name in international adoption."

      The Legal 500

    • "Recognised for its expertise in both domestic and international adoption, as well as assisted conception."

      Chambers UK

    • "Naomi Angell is a leading figure in domestic and inter-country adoptions, and also has expert knowledge of related fertility and surrogacy issues."

      Chambers UK

    • "Naomi Angell is phenomenal. She's done it for so long and knows so much that she's a fount of knowledge. If Naomi doesn't know something, it isn't worth knowing."

      Chambers UK

    • Naomi Angell is the doyenne of inter-country adoption and the font of all knowledge in this area.

      Chambers UK

    • Highly respected for her [Naomi Angell] focused on cross-border children work, including surrogacy matters.

      Chambers UK

    • Naomi Angell advises on international adoptions and complex surrogacy matters. She is commended for her broad, in-depth experience."

      Chambers UK

    • Naomi Angell is an expert in adoption issues.

      Legal 500

    • Naomi Angell leads the market in cross-border children law matters. Sources confirm that she is "at the cutting edge of changing law and policy" when it comes to international adoption

      Chambers UK

    • Naomi Angell is described as hugely experienced, calm and a good listener.

      Chambers UK

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    Contact our Adoption Lawyers Today

    For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

    Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you