Several members of the 9 Park Place Family Team were instructed in the recently published case of A v. B [2023] EWFC 333, whereby the court dealt with a number of applications brought on behalf of the childâs biological father, a well-publicised unregulated sperm donor who uses the pseudonym âJoe Donorâ, who asserts to have 180 children worldwide.
As part of the Judgment, the court dismissed the sperm donorâs applications for direct contact, Parental Responsibility, a change of the childâs name, inclusion on the childâs birth certificate and a declaration of parentage, observing it was not in the childâs welfare interests to grant any of the applications. The court further commented generally as to the possible consequences of unregulated sperm donorship.
The court also took the unusual step of naming the sperm donor, Robert Charles Albon, on the basis there was public interest in the courtâs findings being shared and that vulnerable women seeking to get pregnant via an unregulated sperm donation arrangement should be aware of the risks associated with Mr. Albon (âJoe Donorâ).
Owen Thomas K.C. and Rhys Davies, instructed by Hannah Davies of Rubin Lewis OâBrien Solicitors, represented the childâs biological mother.
Kate Hughes K.C. and Michael Hammett, instructed by Natalie Corten of Watkins and Gunn Solicitors, represented the childâs non-biological mother.
The Judgment has been reported nationally, having been initially reported by the BBC on 11th February 2025: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yer90xpzno
The Judgment can be found at: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2023/333.html