Spear’s Review 

Sharon Segal KC is frequently instructed on complex children law cases in the High Court, as well as the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. 

Her work at 1GC often involves an international element and includes cross-jurisdictional adoption cases, complex child arrangement disputes and international child relocation; Segal is also experienced in the complexities of international surrogacy, and is an honorary lifetime vice president of the Association of Lawyers for Children. 

Between 2019 and 2023, along with Charles Geekie KC, she supported Fiona Shackleton in the very high-profile Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum divorce case, acting on behalf of Princess Haya of Jordan.

Segal always aims to ‘improve a client’s situation, not exacerbate it, and guide them towards an approach which is likely to achieve a sustainable and positive outcome’, she tells Spear’s. Her approach begins with ‘realistic’ and manageable advice to clients that, most importantly, ‘respects the emotional context that they are in at the time’.

Notable cases

• Re J (A child) (Surrogacy: Adoption Order) [2025] EWHC 2960
• N (Adoption – Surrogacy) Re [2024] EWFC 41
• C v M (A Child) (Abduction: Representation of Child Party) [2023] EWCA Civ 1449