Dawson Cornwell welcomes Naomi Angell as consultant

Leading family law firm Dawson Cornwell LLP is thrilled to welcome Naomi Angell to its Children Department, effective from 20 April 2026. Naomi brings with her a remarkable career that spans several decades, and she is renowned as a leading authority in adoption and surrogacy law on both domestic and international fronts. Her expertise encompasses intercountry and domestic adoption, international and domestic surrogacy, and cases involving children with an immigration dimension. In her practice, she advises a diverse clientele, including children, birth parents, extended family members, intended parents, adopters, foster parents, and surrogates. Additionally, she serves as an expert witness for local authorities, foreign courts, and organisations engaged in cross-border children’s matters.

Throughout her impressive career, Naomi has balanced complex casework with significant contributions to family law policy and reform. Notably, in 1981, she established the Children’s Legal Centre and later became its Patron. At Dawson Cornwell, her commitment includes mentoring, training, and fostering the development of the next generation of family lawyers. In addition to her active caseload, she will enhance the firm’s ongoing investment in knowledge sharing and technical excellence while leveraging her extensive network and policy expertise to boost its international profile.

Russell Bywater, Managing Partner at Dawson Cornwell, expressed enthusiasm about Naomi’s appointment, saying “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Naomi to the firm. She is a true pioneer in adoption and surrogacy law, with a reputation that is second to none.” He further noted that Naomi’s decision to join the firm represents a significant endorsement of Dawson Cornwell's team and ambitions. This sentiment was echoed by Carolina Marín Pedreño, Partner and Head of the Children Department, who remarked “Today marks a significant day for Dawson Cornwell as we warmly welcome Naomi, a true leader in adoption, surrogacy and fertility law, to our team.” She highlighted Naomi’s remarkable expertise, stating that it will be invaluable for the firm’s mission to deliver exceptional outcomes for its clients.

Naomi Angell expressed her excitement about joining the firm, stating “I am delighted to be joining Dawson Cornwell. It was important to me to find a firm where my practice would be valued and developed for the future.” She looks forward to collaborating with such a highly regarded team and is eager to support and mentor lawyers aiming to gain expertise in adoption, surrogacy, and international children’s work.

Dawson Cornwell is highly regarded, consistently ranked Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 for family law in The Legal 500, and is well-known for handling complex matrimonial finance and children law cases, often involving cross-border and multi-jurisdictional elements.