Dawson Cornwell LLP

Children

Partner known for her expertise in international and domestic adoptions, surrogacy and alternative families, cases involving the relocation and international movement of children, abductions, jurisdictional disputes, and complex care proceedings, often involving cross-border issues, and the most serious allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, factitious illness and radicalisation, with concurrent criminal investigations/proceedings.

A former journalist, throughout her legal career, Hilka has practised children and family law, has been involved in many reported and high-profile cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal which have shaped English adoption and surrogacy law. She joined Dawson Cornwell as a partner in February 2023, having previously been a partner and head of department at other prominent firms specialising in children law.

Fluent in German, conversational French and some Russian.

Resolution accredited adoption and child abduction specialist and on the Law Society’s Children Panel; trustee for Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB); member of the Association of Lawyers for Children; Coram BAAF – the British Adoption and Fostering Organisation; the International Bar Association (IBA); the Child Abduction Lawyers’ Association; and Resolution.