Aidan Vine KC and Victoria Flowers spoke at Family Law Week’s Private Children Law Conference 2026, held on Friday 9 October at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.
Aidan’s presentation, Children at the Centre: Participation and Decision-Making in Public and Private Law, examined the legal framework governing children’s participation in family proceedings, including the appointment of Children’s Guardians, separate representation and the circumstances in which children may instruct solicitors directly.
Aidan also chaired a panel discussion exploring how children’s wishes and feelings are obtained, communicated and reflected in judicial decision-making. The discussion considered differences between public and private law proceedings, practical barriers to meaningful participation and opportunities to strengthen children’s involvement throughout the process.
Victoria Flowers on donor conception as part of the panel discussion “Modern Families, Complex Realities: Case Studies in Surrogacy, Trans Parenthood and Donor Conception”. Victoria also spoke about the complex legal parenthood issues that can arise when children are born through donor conception.
