At Growing Families, our verification criteria are shaped and refined by a global review committee of fertility and legal experts. These are the people who help ensure our standards are thorough, ethical, and responsive to the constantly evolving world of international surrogacy and donor IVF. Their expertise helps safeguard intended parents, surrogates, clinics, and agencies worldwide.
Sam Everingham, our Global Director, leads the committee. With a background in medicine, public health, and research, Sam has supported thousands of families to navigate surrogacy and donor IVF. He also knows the journey personally, having two daughters via cross-border surrogacy.
From the UK, Natalie Gamble brings decades of experience in fertility law. She was the first solicitor to pioneer fertility law in the UK, is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers, and has advised families internationally on adoption and surrogacy.
“I started my own family (as a same-sex parent) in 2002. At the time, our family had no legal recognition and was discriminated against, and it was an experience that drove a determination in me to make the law more inclusive, as well as to give other prospective parents the courage that they could have a family against the odds.”
In Spain, Ana Miramontes has worked in family law since 1997 and fertility law since 2008. She advises on gestational surrogacy and adoption abroad, supporting families through citizenship and parental recognition processes, and is a fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.
From the USA, Kim Surratt, licensed in Nevada and California, has been a pioneer in assisted reproduction law since 2004. She has advised thousands of surrogacy clients globally, contributed to reproductive law policy, and received multiple awards for her pro bono work. Liz Schwartz has over 20 years’ experience in ART law and is a specialist in international surrogacy, particularly for LGBTQ+ parents. Jaime Gher combines human rights and reproductive law expertise, advising on international legal frameworks, reproductive justice, and policy impacting cross-border family building.
From Australia, Sarah Bevan specialises solely in family law and has extensive experience in international family law, with strong connections to practitioners and registries worldwide.
In Canada, Sara Cohen is one of only three lawyers devoted exclusively to reproductive law, advising intended parents, surrogates, egg and sperm donors, clinics, and cryobanks on legal compliance across the country and internationally.
From Greece, Maria Vastaroucha leads Nomos Fertility Law Group, supporting families, clinics, and agencies on cross-border surrogacy, donor arrangements, and parental recognition. She also serves on our International Advisory Board on Surrogacy Law and Policy.
Finally, from Ukraine, Olga Danchenko has specialised in family and fertility law since 2010. She helps intended parents navigate the surrogacy exit process and secure full parental rights in their home country, working closely with local authorities and a network of reproductive law experts across more than 20 countries.
Together, this committee brings unparalleled legal and clinical insight from across the globe. They conduct a biannual review of the criteria used by Growing Families to determine whether a provider should receive the verified badge. They are also the team we consult when complex or challenging issues arise during a provider’s verification. Their work guarantees that our verification process is not just a checklist, but a living framework designed to protect families and support ethical, reliable surrogacy worldwide.
If you have any questions about our review committee or our verification process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
