Connie Atkinson

What clients and directories say

“Connie Atkinson is a standout mediator. She’s skilled at dealing with the trickiest of cases, very calm and an exceptional lawyer. She’s also one of the leading voices in fertility and surrogacy law.” Chambers HNW 2025

“Connie Atkinson is one of my go-to recommendations in mediation matters. She does things you think can’t be mediated. She also does a lot of work in new family and surrogacy issues.” Chambers HNW 2025

“Connie is good at looking at the next move so that clients don’t get a surprise when X or Y doesn’t happen – she’s always got a plan.” Chambers and Partners, 2025

“She is a powerful voice for children and is very proactive in the community.” Chambers and Partners, 2025

“Connie Atkinson is a shining light in the family law world. As a solicitor, Connie is refreshingly understated and modest about her abilities, phenomenally hard-working and gives clients realistic and empathetic advice. Connie also has a thriving mediation practice and as a mediator, can unlock even the trickiest of cases in mediation.” Legal 500, 2025

“Connie Atkinson’s mediation practice goes from strength to strength. She makes clients feel empowered by the process and crucially they both feel it is fair and that they are heard. Connie is patient and fair, and firm where necessary, so one party does not feel there is a power imbalance.” Legal 500, 2025

“Connie thinks laterally about how to solve clients’ problems with the law while being attentive and warm. She is excellent.” Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

“Connie has a brilliant manner with clients and puts them at ease.” Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

“Connie is a real star. She is committed to providing an outstanding service to her clients. She is technically brilliant and will not fight unreasonable points. She adopts a solution-focused approach.” Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

“She is technically brilliant and is committed to providing an outstanding service to her clients.” Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide, 2024

“Connie is client-focused, approachable and down to earth.” Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2023

“She is second to none in terms of her surrogacy work.” Chambers UK, 2023

“She is a fantastic solicitor. I love that she has a really down-to-earth approach with clients and that she can deal with anybody and everything.”
Chambers UK, 2023

“Connie is absolutely amazing. She is very experienced, very client-focused and very strategic in her approach.”
Chambers UK, 2023

“She is all over the detail and has a nice manner, which is direct and straightforward. When I see her name on the papers, my heart sings.”
Chambers UK, 2023

“She is bright and has sound judgement, and a commitment to her cases, whilst also taking a reasonable and collaborative approach to her cases.” Legal 500, 2023

Recent Work

• CP v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 39
• Mr and Mrs K v Mr and Mrs Z [2025] EWHC 927 (Fam) – acted for applicant parents in surrogacy case in which the court provided additional guidance as to relevant factors for intended parents to address
• R v T [2022] EWHC 3362 (Fam) – the court’s determination of preliminary issues regarding parentage and jurisdiction following applications regarding a sibling group habitually resident in the United Arab Emirates
• SW v IB [2022] EWFC 151 – challenge to a decision made in arbitration. Arbitration decision upheld by the court
• Y v Y (Financial Remedy: Marriage Contract) [2014] EWHC 2920 (Fam) – financial remedy proceedings in the High Court concerning the weight to be given to a foreign marriage contract
• Re: N 2016 UKSC 15 – intervening on behalf of The International Centre for Family Law Policy and Practice
• Re: R 2016/1437 – intervening on behalf of The International Centre for Family Law Policy and Practice

Publications

• A reflection on 10 years of the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour – Solicitor’s Journal, April 2025
• National Fertility Awareness Week | In the Club? – Today’s Family Lawyer, October 2023
• National Fertility Awareness Week | In the Club? – We Are The City, October 2023
• HNW Divorce Magazine Issue 14 – ADR in Divorce, ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Divorce, October 2023
• The Pros and Cons of Nesting – The Divorce Magazine, August 2023
• What is allyship and how can law firms help LGBTQIA people? My Surrogacy Journey, July 2023
• Surrogacy: ‘Revolutionary’ changes could see intended parents recognised in law from birth, Today’s Family Lawyer 2023
• Family lawyers welcome ”revolutionary” surrogacy recommendations, Law Society Gazette, March 2023
• Surrogacy law reform up for UK government review following draft legislation publication, EPrivateClient, March 2023
• Surrogacy ‘revolution’ underway, New Law Journal, March 2023
• How will the new law changes around surrogacy impact parents in the UK? Women’s Health, March 2023
• 60 seconds with Connie, Thought Leaders 4, October 2022
• The rise of the crypto assets in financial remedies, ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Magazine, October 2022
• Work Life, Stylist, January 2022
• ‘it’s None Of Your Business’ – A Review Of The Issues Affecting A Divorce Settlement When Business Assets Are Involved, Thought Leaders 4, January 2022
• ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Divorce Magazine – Issue 5, May 2021
• Valuing your business for divorce proceedings during the uncertainty of COVID, Business Matters, May 2020
• When solicitors divorce: calculating an equity partner’s income – Law Society Gazette, March 2020
• Connie was one of the legal advisers on the script of The Split, Seasons 1 & 2, a BBC drama series, which aired in 2018 and 2020
• International surrogacy – the legal challenges for US nationals bringing a surrogate child to the UK, The American Magazine, April 2018
• Residency tested – A landmark case concerning habitual residence shows how the courts are adapting to social change – The Law Society Gazette, January 2014
• Child abduction: do children’s views count? – The Times, January 2014

Professional Societies and memberships and Awards

• Connie is ranked in Chambers and Partners for Mediation, Finance, Children and Children International Abduction, Adoption and Surrogacy
• Chambers UK and HNW Guides
• Next Generation Partner in The Legal 500 for Family and Mediation
• Listed in the ‘Recommended’ tier in the Spears Family Law Index 2025. 
• Resolution(the association of family lawyers committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes)
• The Law Society – including the Family and the Junior Lawyers’ Divisions
• The Family Mediation Council
• Listed as a Citywealth Leader in Family and Matrimonial
• Doyle’s Guide 2025, Leading, Family & Divorce Lawyer
• Doyle’s Guide 2025, Leading, Children Lawyers
• Winner of family lawyer of the year and national private client lawyer of the year at the Private Client Modern Law Awards 2023

Further Information

Connie was one of the legal advisers on the script of The Split, Seasons 1, 2 & 3, a BBC drama series.

Connie joined Kingsley Napley as a trainee in 2008 and qualified into the family department in 2010. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at a South Devon law firm where she undertook both children and financial work. Connie obtained a law degree from Exeter University before attending the College of Law in Guildford for her legal practice course.

In her spare time, Connie enjoys cooking (and eating), netball and running.