Egg Donor / Surrogacy Event - London 25 March - Growing Families

UK SEMINAR

Fulfilling Your Family Building Dream

Date: 25 March 2023

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For an individual or couple considering parenthood, navigating the family-building process with donors and/or surrogates can be an overwhelming experience.

Add recent global changes, COVID and the Ukraine war, along with an increase in demand for fertility assisted babies. All has led to changes in family-building programs availability, costs, and risks.

Growing Families London seminar will feature local and international IVF experts who will navigate the post-landscape, discuss what it all means for intended parents and give you the chance to ask the tough questions.

Now, it is more important than ever to be aware of potential risks and challenges, as well as how service providers are addressing these!

Join us for an interactive ‘Ask Me Anything’ Seminar

our UK legal partner, A City Law Firm, are kindly offering, to all attendees

  • a free follow up professional consultation (valued at GBP500)
  • a 30% discount on the creation of/update to your wills following the birth of your child

Saturday 25 March
11.00am to 6.00pm

Wellcome Collection,
Euston 183 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BE

What You Will Learn!

A global program of experts, doctors, surrogates, donors, and parents will openly discuss Donor IVF, Surrogacy and Egg Donor Options in the United Kingdom and abroad. 

The seminar is curated to provide the most up-to date information for those starting or on a family building surrogacy / donor journey.

The interactive seminar format provides advice, introductions and answers to questions, no matter where you are in your journey.  We cover steps on how to first engagement with professional service providers to taking your baby home.

This event will guide you on:

  • Surrogacy & Egg Donor Options by Country
  • Medical & Donor Considerations
  • Legal Issues
  • Parent & Surrogate Panels

One-on-One Consultations:

Included with your ticket is the opportunity to arrange meetings with as many experts from the seminar as you like. Read the profiles on each of our speakers and email us to arrange your consultation meetings.

SPEAKERS

Leaders in their Fields Providing Information on Assisted Reproduction, Surrogacy,
Egg Donation and Legal Process


Laura is an experienced child law solicitor offering advice and support with fertility, surrogacy international and domestic as well as child arrangements and donor agreements. Laura….. specialises in Family Law, including children, finances, pre-nuptial agreements and LGBT issues.

Listen to Laura outline ‘The Top 10 Things People Need to Know in the UK About Their Surrogacy Journey.’ https://bit.ly/3Tce9u0

Laura Jennings, Director & Family Law Solicitor – A City Law Firm, UK

Dr. Jovanovic ranks among the top fertility doctors in Los Angeles. Beyond providing services in Southern California, many patients travel from all over the world to seek his expertise as a reproductive care provider.  He is constantly working to find new ways to maximize patient success rates and use the latest technology and optimized treatment protocols.

Dr. Vuk Jovanovic, Medical Director, Tree of Life Center California, USA

Dana is an Israel-based lawyer and co-owner of Lotus Surrogacy, a global surrogacy agency with many years experience guiding couples through international surrogacy first in India and Nepal and more recently in Ukraine. Lotus now offers a legal world-first program in Kazakhstan for heterosexual couples

Dana Magdassi, Lotus Surrogacy,


Dr Uliana coordinated the ground-breaking first international IVF procedure in Ukraine. Dr. Uliana has over 12 years’ IVF experience, performed over 5000 cycles, treated patients from 36 countries and has clinics all over the world.

Dr. Uliana Dorofeyeva, Ovogene, Slovakia

Dr. Dixon is the Founder, CEO and Medical Director of Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health which opened in 2016 as Canada’s newest full-service fertility and IVF center. It is home to the first next-generation embryology laboratory in Canada and is a leader in innovation, education, and communication for high quality humanized fertility and reproductive care.

Dr. Marjorie Dixon, CEO & Medical Director, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health Canada

Dr. Marjorie Dixon - Anova Fertility, Canada - Growing Families

Monica has dedicated her life to guiding and supporting Intended Parents and surrogates through their surrogacy journeys. Monica is the Agency Director of Accel Conceptions, she is open-minded and leads with her heart – the epitome of compassion and fierce advocacy. She has two decades of industry experience and nursing background, there is no such thing as a silly question — seriously, just ask he

Monica Buehler, Agency Director, Accel Conceptions, USA

Ester Nunez is the owner of SudAmerika Surrogacy, an agency which has supported South Americans, UK and French couples engaging in surrogacy in Argentina. She is a member of Argentine Association of Lawyers for Gestational Surrogacy and is the author of several legal publications.

Ester Nunez, SudAmerika Surrogacy, Argentina

SudAmerika Surrogacy Argentina - Growing Families lawyer for surrogacy in Argentina

The 2023 edition of Legal 500 states: 

“Barry O’Leary – utterly brilliant for surrogacy related and nationality law issues.” 

Barry O’Leary, Wesley Gryk Solicitors, UK

View the Full List of Expert Speakers

‘Ask Me Anything’ London Seminar

Fulfill Your Family Building Dream!

Date: Saturday 25 March 2023
Time:  11.00am to 6.00pm
Location:  Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

Ticket Price: £30 per person

Ticket price includes one-on-one consultation with expert providers post event, lunch, afternoon tea, and complimentary networking drinks and nibbles. The networking drinks provide an opportunity to freely talk with all expert speakers, donor, surrogates, recent parents and children.

Keynote Speaker Video Highlights ticket: £20

If you are unable to attend the seminar, opt for the 1-hour highlights reel. Receive insights from our keynote speakers available through a download link sent to you a week after the event   Ticket price includes one-on-one consultations with any expert speaker via Zoom. 

Growing Families have 11 years of experience supporting over 3000 singles and couples engaging in international donor and surrogacy arrangements.

Who should attend this Seminar

Heterosexual Couples:

  • Understand how age affects IVF success rates, when you should be considering a donor & what options are available at home and abroad
  • Understand why the Ukraine is now a dangerous option for surrogacy
  • Learn about embryo shipping options, costs and risks

Same Sex Couples:

  • Understand the destinations that allow gay couples and singles to engage in surrogacy
  • Learn about egg donor selection and what you should consider before making your decision
  • Understand the legal & practical issues around travel, birth certificates and parentage

Singles:

  • Understand the process of using donor eggs or sperm
  • Understand which jurisdictions allow a single person to engage in surrogacy
  • Connect with single parents who have been on this journey

Healthcare Professionals:

  • With an interest in third party reproduction and assisting donors, surrogates and/or intended parents

Agenda & Speakers 2023

11.00 – 11.30pm

Introduction

An overview of donor IVF and surrogacy options globally, costs, timelines, risks, financial and emotional considerations, medical preparation and support available

Sam Everingham, Growing Families.

11.30 – 12.00pm

Donor & Embryo Creation Options Locally And Abroad

Will discuss the regulated process in the United Kingdom on how to make embryos; your donor options – IVF clinic or Donor database, donor availability, suitability, screening, matching and the process that follows. This will include counselling as well as semen analysis and how to interpret embryo grading. 

International IVF doctors will be presenting this session.

Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, Canada;  Dr. Uliana Dorofeyeva,  Ovogene,: Dr. Vuk Jovanovic, Tree of Life, USA.

12.00 – 12.10pm

Surrogacy in the USA

Which kind of IPs are best suited to programs in the US? What is the variability in program costs? What about multiple embryo transfer? What issues affect surrogate match times?

How does surrogate screening and matching work? What expectations do surrogates have of IPs? How does surrogate compensation vary? Who will support my surrogate?

Monica Buehler Accel Conceptions, USA

12.10 – 1.2.20pm

Surrogacy in Argentina

The city of Buenos Aires offers both donor IVF and surrogacy to locals and foreigners. Recent supportive case law means foreigners are increasingly engaging in Argentina programs. A renowned Argentine family law explains the screening and support programs offered, as well as how birth certificates and transfer of parentage works.

Ester Nunez, SudAmerica Surrogacy, Argentina.

12.20 – 1.00pm

Latest trends in European Surrogacy Options

Experts provide an update on changes and developments in newer donor and surrogacy options; this includes time restraints, timelines and solutions. Countries covered include Greece, Georgia, Albania, Kazahkstan

We also provide an update on the Ukraine situation.

Professional service providers will present for 10 minutes each

Nana Nadiradze, ReproArt Georgia;  Dr. Uliana Dorofeyeva, Ovogene: Nigla Peci, International Turkish Hospital, Albania; Dana Magdassi, Lotus Surrogacy

1.50 – 2.20pm

Legal Experts Panel

Surrogacy lawyers discussing the legal issues associated with surrogacy and egg donation in the United Kingdom and abroad. 

This includes contracts & agreements; birth certificates; legal parentage; when and how parental transfer occur and timelines. Also addressed with be the Roe Vs Wade timing & implications, and a UK Law Commission bill update.

Karen Holden, A City Law Firm, UK;  Dean Masserman, Vorzimer/Masserman – Fertility & Family Law Center, USA. Dana Magdassi, Lotus Surrogacy; Cindy Wasser, Hope Springs Fertility Law, Canada

2.20 – 2.50pm

IVF Doctors – Ask Me Anything Panel

This is your opportunity to ask IVF doctors from Canada, Georgia and the USA any questions you may have.

This may include questions on: factors affecting embryo quality & success rates, what the pros and cons of pregenetic-testing are or are not, does pregnancy usually happen the first time around, when is carrier screening indicated, will overseas clinics accept UK embryos or any other question you may have.

Panelists: Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health, Canada;  Dr. Uliana Dorofeyeva,  Ovogene; Dr. Vuk Jovanovic, Tree of Life, USA.

2.50 – 3.25pm

Surrogacy Experts – Ask Me Anything Panel

This is your opportunity to ask surrogacy experts from Georgia, Argentina, the USA & Greece any questions you may have.

This may include questions on: program costs, the risks in their countries, how quickly a surrogate can be found, does pregnancy usually happen the first time around, or any other question you may have.

Panelists: Monica Buehler, Accel Conceptions, USA; Ester Nunez, SudAmerica Surrogacy, Argentina; Dr Rosa Propato, Greece & Albania; Nana Nadiradze, ReproArt Georgia

3.25 – 3.35pm

International surrogacy and British nationality and immigration law

An overview of the considerations to be mindful of for obtaining nationality for infants via cross border surrogacy

Barry O’Leary, Wesley Gryk Solicitors, UK.

3.35- 3.55pm

AFTERNOON TEA

3.55- 4.40pm

‘Ask Me Anything’ Parent Panel

Hear from recent parents  discuss their decision-making process, surrogate relationships, disclosure to family, cultural barriers, hurdles, costs and audience question time.

Ben Myall, Dad via Mexico; Christian Bair, Dad via US surrogacy; Charlie Tighe, Dad via Canada; Claire Litchfield, mum via Ukraine;

4.40 – 5.10pm

Ask me Anything Surrogate Panel

Kendra Gonsalves (US), Megi Sirginava (Georgia) Sara Taylor (Canada) Dawn Bennett (USA)

5.10 – 6.00pm Networking Drinks

Enjoy drinks and nibbles while mingling with service providers, speakers and other intended parents on a similar journey to you.

Why You Should Attend Even If You Have Been Before:

Surrogacy & Donor options, wait times and agency capacity change regularly given the high demand. Our events focus on providing the latest information and updates. We constantly review feedback on agencies, risks and other hurdles to allow you to better plan. 

So, no matter where you are in your family building journey, these events provide essential updated information + an opportunity to talk with recent parents and older children via surrogacy.

Date:          Saturday 25 March 2023
Time:        11.00am to 6.00pm
Location:  Wellcome Collection, Euston – 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
Tickets:    £30

Ticket price includes:  lunch & afternoon tea, with complimentary networking drinks and nibbles. Along with the opportunity to freely talk with all expert speakers, donor & surrogates, recent parents and older children on the day. 

Reviews

“Thank you so much for the event, I found all the information extremely helpful”

reece

london seminar 2022

“I didn’t know where to start and was hungry for information.  Now I have the info I need to get started

Fiona

london seminar 2022 

Meet Our Expert Speakers

Barry O’Leary
Wesley Gryk Solicitors, UK
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Dawn Bennet
US Surrogate (11 times)
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Dr Rosa Propato
Program Co-ordinator, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Karen Holden
Founder, A City Law Firm
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Kendra Gonsalves
US surrogate
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Megi Sirginava
Georgian surrogate
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Nigla Peci
Manager, International Turkish Hospital, Albania
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Sam Everingham
Global Expert & Growing Families Director
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Family Members Sharing Their Stories

Ben Myall
UK Dad via Mexico
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Charlie Tighe
Dad via Canada
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If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via email: Info@growingfamilies.org.

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