Jemma Dally

Executive Partner

  • Legal 500 Leading Individual 2024 White.
  • Jemma Dally Chambers Ranked 2024 White
  • The Times Logo 2024 White

Jemma Dally is a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with. Jemma was unflappable and sensitive, but firm throughout. She is always completely on top of the case, and totally dedicated. She makes each client feel like they are her only one.

- Jemma Dally in the Legal 500, 2024

Jemma Dally has a strong practice in issues of surrogacy, fertility, domestic and international adoption, for which sources consider her “a real leader.” Another interviewee notes: “Jemma is highly professional and knowledgeable. She is efficient, reliable and a good communicator.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2019

She is extremely creative, very bright and great with clients. Jemma is very child- focused and is really good at handling challenging cases.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

Jemma is always thinking about the client and how to solve their problem.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

Her knowledge of adoption law, her dedication to our case, her honesty about the reality of it, alongside her kindness, make her a special human and exceptional lawyer.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

She knew our case inside-out and was not only a wonderful lawyer, but an empathetic and understanding person to deal with during the worst days of our lives.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

Jemma is the lawyer you want in your corner. Her knowledge of adoption law is incredible.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

Jemma Dally draws praise for her expert handling of adoption and surrogacy issues. She is also adept at fertility cases and family matters with immigration elements. Her practice includes both domestic and international adoptions.

- Jemma Dally in Chambers and Partners, 2023

Jemma Dally is a market leader in surrogacy and modern families work. She is enormously creative and always looking to push forward her clients’ cases.

- Jemma Dally in the Legal 500, 2024

She is a forerunner in international children law and especially complex surrogacy work.

- Jemma Dally in the Legal 500, 2024

Jemma brings an innovative and creative approach to things and she takes chances. She follows her instincts and her instincts are usually right.

- Jemma Dally in the Legal 500, 2024

About

Jemma heads up the Adoption, Surrogacy and International Child Care department. She specialises in and has extensive experience of complex international adoption and surrogacy cases as well as being highly regarded for her expertise and growing practice in cases involving children who are conceived by way of artificial insemination under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. She has been at Goodman Ray since 2001 and was made a partner in 2009.

Jemma is known for her creativity in her area of expertise and the cases in which she has acted have been described as “cutting edge law”

Jemma is a member of the British Agency for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and she sits on their legal group advisory committee, who consider, comment and advise BAAF on legal, social and procedural issues relation to adoption and fostering. Jemma is also a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC), Resolution, the International Bar Association and she is accredited as a specialist in adoption and private law children cases.

Jemma successfully represented five families in the landmark decision The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (A & Ors) 2015 EWHC 2602 concerning the acquisition of legal parenthood in respect of children conceived using donor sperm.

Jemma’s cases have shaped and established the law in relation to the recognition of foreign adoption orders in this jurisdiction. She was in the instructed solicitor in many of the leading cases in this area, including D-v-D (foreign adoption) [2008] 1 FLR 1475, Re R (Recognition of Indian adoption) [2012] EWHC 2956 (FAM), Re Z and Z (Recognition of a Brazilian Adoption Order) [2013] EWHC 747(FAM) and Re G (Recognition of Brazilian Adoption) [2014] EWHC 2605 (Fam).

Jemma has written for a number of publications which include, the International Bar Association Family Law Committee Newsletter, Family Law Week and Lexis Nexis. She has also contributed to the Stonewall Guide for Gay Dads.

On 15 October 2015 Jemma Dally was interviewed for The Times Lawyer of the Week – read the article here.

Directories

  • “Jemma Dally is a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with. Jemma was unflappable and sensitive, but firm throughout. She is always completely on top of the case, and totally dedicated. She makes each client feel like they are her only one.”
  • Jemma Dally is a market leader in surrogacy and modern families work. She is enormously creative and always looking to push forward her clients’ cases.”
  • She is a forerunner in international children law and especially complex surrogacy work.”
  • Jemma brings an innovative and creative approach to things and she takes chances. She follows her instincts and her instincts are usually right.”

The Legal 500, 2024


  • “Jemma Dally draws praise for her expert handling of both domestic and international matters related to adoption and surrogacy. She is also adept at fertility cases and family matters with immigration elements.”
  • “Jemma Dally is a market leader in surrogacy and modern families work. She is enormously creative and always looking forward to push forward her clients’ cases.”
  • “She is a forerunner in international children law and especially complex surrogacy work.”
  • Jemma Dally  brings an innovative and creative approach to things and she takes chances. She follows her instincts and her instincts are usually right.”

Chambers and Partners, 2024


  • She is extremely creative, very bright and great with clients. Jemma is very child- focused and is really good at handling challenging cases.”
  • Jemma Dally draws praise for her expert handling of adoption and surrogacy issues. She is also adept at fertility cases and family matters with immigration elements. Her practice includes both domestic and international adoptions.”
  • Jemma is the lawyer you want in your corner. Her knowledge of adoption law is incredible.”
  • She knew our case inside-out and was not only a wonderful lawyer, but an empathetic and understanding person to deal with during the worst days of our lives.”
  • Her knowledge of adoption law, her dedication to our case, her honesty about the reality of it, alongside her kindness, make her a special human and exceptional lawyer.”
  • Jemma is always thinking about the client and how to solve their problem.”

Chambers and Partners, 2023


  • “Jemma Dally has a strong practice in issues of surrogacy, fertility, domestic and international adoption, for which sources consider her “a real leader.” Another interviewee notes: “Jemma is highly professional and knowledgeable. She is efficient, reliable and a good communicator.”

Chambers & Partners, 2019


  • “Jemma Dally ‘goes beyond the call of duty to ensure that her clients receive an excellent service’.”

Legal 500, 2018

Significant Reported Cases

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