Tom Wilson

Practice Overview

• Children (Public Law)

  Tom acts in care, adoption and other public law proceedings, representing parents, local authorities, children and other family members.

  Tom is regularly instructed in complex cases, including those involving allegations of non-accidental injury to children, child death, child sexual abuse, and radicalisation. He has appeared in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, both alone and as a led junior.

  Tom is also regularly instructed to advise and act in domestic and international adoption proceedings.

• Children (Private Law)

  Tom acts for parents, children and other relatives across all private law matters concerning children. He has a wealth of experience in child arrangements disputes, including those involving complex issues such as implacable hostility and allegations of serious physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Many of Tom’s cases have an international element, including international child abduction and applications for permanent or temporary leave to remove children from the jurisdiction.

  Tom also specialises in private law disputes concerning donor-conceived children and those from alternative family structures.

• Judicial Review & Administrative Law

  Tom advises and represents local authorities, parents, and young people in judicial review proceedings. 

  Tom is appointed to the Attorney-General’s B Panel and regularly advises and represents Government departments and other public bodies in matters relating to children.

  Tom is appointed to the Attorney-General’s Panel of Special Advocates.

• International Family Law

  Tom’s work frequently involves consideration of international issues. He has appeared in such cases at all levels of court, up to and including the Court of Appeal, with and without a leader. He regularly acts for parents and children in matters involving international child abduction, international adoption, permanent leave to relocate with a child, and temporary leave to remove to non-Hague countries.

  Tom has been instructed in long-running international litigation concerning children, including the Al Maktoum proceedings and the proceedings concerning child migrants in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

  Tom also has experience of cases involving the cross-over between family law and immigration law and those in which issues of diplomatic immunity arise.

• Domestic Abuse & Injunctions

  Tom represents those seeking, or responding to, non-molestation and occupation orders, forced marriage protection orders, and injunctions under the inherent jurisdiction.

• Surrogacy, Adoption & Fertility Law

  Tom specialises in cases involving donor-conceived children and children who have been born through surrogacy arrangements. He regularly acts in applications for parental orders, applications for declarations of parentage, and in private law disputes arising concerning donor-conceived children and transgender young people.

  Tom is recognised as a leader in this area and regularly appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal in relation to such matters.

  Tom has appeared in several cases arising from administrative errors on the part of fertility clinics and the General Registrar’s Office. He appeared in Cases K, L and O before the President, and has successfully represented parents in a judicial review claim arising from the incorrect registration of a child’s birth in such circumstances.

• Notable Cases

  C v D [2025] EWFC 196

  Re J, K and L (Application for Non-Agency Adoptions) [2025] EWFC 157 (B)

  O v P (No. 2) [2025] EWHC 718 (Fam) 

  LA v M [2025] EWHC 630 (Fam) 

  O v P and Q [2024] EWCA Civ 1577

  Mother v Father [2024] EWFC 224 

  Father v Z [2024] EWFC 225 

  G v Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority & Anor [2024] EWHC 2453 

  LA v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 1336

  Re Z (Infant Fatality) [2024] EWHC 618

  O v P & Anor [2024] EWHC 1077

  Re AB (A child) [2024] EWHC 586

  A v B & Ors [2023] EWHC 1680

  A v B & and C [2023] EWCA Civ 360

  B & Anor v D & Ors [2023] EWFC 18

  K v Maya & Anor [2023] EWHC 293

  A & Anor v B & Ors [2022] EWHC 3089

  C (A Child) (Parental Order & Child Arrangements Order No. 3) [2021] EWHC 3045

  C (A Child) (Parental Order & Child Arrangements Order No. 4) [2022] EWHC 2501

  Re A (Children) (Pool of perpetrators) [2022] EWCA Civ 1348

  F v M [2022] EWHC 2564 

  Re AZ (A Child) (Recusal) [2022] EWCA Civ 911

  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum v Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein [2022] EWFC 16

  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum v Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein [2021] EWHC 3480 (Fam)

  Re G (Adoption; Notice Under s35 ACA 2002; Revocation of Placement Order) [2021] EWFC 93

  AX v BX & Ors (Revocation of Adoption Order) [2021] EWHC 1121 (Fam)

  Re H-N And Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearings) (Rev 2) [2021] EWCA Civ 448 

  Newman v Southampton City Council & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 437 

  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum v Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein [2021] EWCA Civ 1216 

  Re Al M (Fact-Finding) [2021] EWHC 1162 (Fam)

  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum v Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein [2021] EWCA Civ 129 

  Re Al M (Non-Molestation) [2020] EWHC 3305

  Re Al M (Foreign Act of State) [2020] EWHC 2883 (Fam)

  Z v X (Declaration of Parentage) [2020] EWFC 67

  Prospective Adopters v Sheffield City Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1591

  Re C (A Child: Parental Order & Child Arrangements Order) [2020] EWHC 2141 (Fam)

  Re C (A Child: Parental Order & Child Arrangements Order) [2020] EWHC 2474 (Fam)

  R v P (Children: Similar Fact Evidence) [2020] EWCA Civ 1088

  R (Leave to Oppose The Making of an Adoption Order), Re [2020] EWFC 97

  Re X (Revocations of Testamentary Guardianship) [2020] EWFC 33

  Re Al M (Assurances and Waiver) [2020] EWHC 67 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Publication) [2020] EWHC 122 (Fam)

  Re Al M (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 283

  Re Al M (Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 3415 (Fam)

  PQ v RS and Others (Legal Parenthood: Written Consent) [2019] EWFC 65

  LR v A Local Authority & Ors (Application to Terminate Appointment of Guardian) [2019] EWFC 49

  A Local Authority v M & Ors (Placement Order) [2019] EWFC 50

  ZH v HS & Ors (Application to Revoke Adoption Order) [2019] EWHC 2190 (Fam)

  Re RP (A Child) (Foster Carers Appeal) [2019] EWCA Civ 525

  Poole Borough Council v GN (through his Litigation Friend ‘the Official Solicitor) & Anor [2019] UKSC 25A v A [2015] EWHC 3397 (Fam)

  Re ST (A Child) (Surrogacy: Iran) [2018] EWHC 3439

  AB v CD [2018] EWHC 1590 (Fam)

  In the Matter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Case K) [2017] EWHC 50 (Fam)

  In the Matter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Case K) (No.2) [2017] EWHC 783 (Fam)

  F v M & Others (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants intervening) [2017] EWHC 949 (Fam)

  Re H (A Child: Surrogacy Breakdown) [2017] EWCA Civ 1798

  Re TG (A Child: Future Care Arrangements) [2017] EWFC 85

  Re K (A Child) [2016] EWCA Civ 931

  In the Matter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Case O) [2016] EWHC 2273 (Fam)

  In the Matter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Case L) [2016] EWHC 2266 (Fam)

• What the Directories Say

  "Tom has a calm and assured style of advocacy that belies his years of call. He is going straight to the top." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2026

  "Tom has an impressive command of fertility and modern family law. Nothing is ever too much trouble; he goes the extra mile and he is a pleasure to work with." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2026

  "Tom listened and acted on our requests throughout our case and truly believed in us and our fight. His meticulous questioning of the evidence was respectful and thorough in equal measure." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2026

  "Tom has a hugely impressive intellect, a calm, authoritative presence in court and his cross-examination is effective without being aggressive." Tier 3 - Legal 500, 2026

  "Tom is an absolutely brilliant barrister. He is unflappable in court and delivers his advocacy with calm and persuasive assurance." Band 3 - Chambers and Partner, 2025

  "Tom intuitively considers novel approaches to resolve difficult legal positions and is able to soundly communicate legal advice in clear language." Band 3 - Chambers and Partner, 2025

  "Tom is a veritable family law encyclopaedia. There is a reason he is led by some of the finest senior counsel at the bar." Band 3 - Chambers and Partner, 2025

  "Tom is a wonderful barrister. He is serenity personified and has a wonderful manner, which puts clients at ease." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2025

  "Tom Wilson is an exceptional barrister, whose advice and strategic decisions are always spot on." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "A barrister at a level beyond his year of call. He is very knowledgeable on the law, and his written and oral work are exemplary." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Tom Wilson is great with clients and totally on top of what he is doing. He delivers excellent advocacy." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2024

  "Tom is a fantastic court advocate who treats everyone with grace and respect. He is always thoroughly prepared, his cross-examination is well thought out, and he gets to the core of the issues." Tier 4 - Legal 500, 2024

  "Tom is an impressive barrister with a great deal of skill and knowledge. He is one to watch and a silk of the future." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Tom produces excellent written work and is strong in cross-examination. He's a pleasant opponent too." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023

  "Tom is highly intelligent, grounds his advice in reality and is destined to become a major senior junior in complex cases. His advocacy is calm and robust. He has a nice approach with clients, and his paperwork is really top notch." Tier 5 - Legal 500, 2023 

  “A rising star and silk of the future.” Chambers and Partners, 2021

  "An experienced champion of alternative family work. His preparation is excellent." Chambers and Partners, 2021

  "Tom Wilson is a superstar in the making." Chambers and Partners, 2020

  "He is excellent value for money and way ahead of his call in terms of talent." Chambers and Partners, 2020