Adeeba Naseem

I am a Director of Family and Childcare at Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

My area of expertise is handling international and domestic family law proceedings at the high court, in particular, I have a niche children law specialism in child abduction, surrogacy and adoption cases. I also regularly deal with separation, divorce and financial proceedings (domestic and international), including pre-nuptial and post nuptial agreements, and cases involving the Queens Proctor which are rare. I have experience in acting for parents and children in care cases and prior to Duncan Lewis, for a number of years, I represented different local authorities within such proceedings.

In child abduction matters I regularly issue family proceedings both domestically and in different jurisdiction outside the UK; I liaise with organisations and authorities in other jurisdictions to ensure vulnerable children are successfully returned to their home country. Although I have handled a significant number of cases worldwide, I am presently dealing with the return of children abducted to Pakistan and Jamaica, which can be highly complicated as these are not countries whose accession to the Hague Convention are ratified and there often has to be mirror proceedings in those countries.

I have expertise in surrogacy cases when couples have a surrogate mother in England or another country to carry their child and look to secure parental orders to ensure they are legally recognised as the child’s parents. I am presently dealing with a case of an Indian couple resident in the UK who had a child through a surrogate in India, whereby applications are being made to the High Court in England for appropriate orders.

I handle both privately funded and publicly funded matters and I have undertaken advocacy at the High Courts and lower courts UK-wide. I act for a significantly broad client base, from vulnerable victims of abuse eligible for legal aid funding, internationally high profile clients to cases with a public interest element due to there being concerns of extremist links or children’s medical conditions. I supervise a team of solicitors, trainees and caseworkers at the firm’s Harrow office that undertake a broad range of family and childcare matters.

I work closely with a number of not for profit organisations that support and advise vulnerable members of their communities. These include children centres, foodbanks and charities. I often give talks and pro bono advice at domestic violence organisations and have a particular interest in securing protection through emergency injunctions for victims of abuse.

I am recognised as a recommended specialist in my field, and listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 UK directory for my work in Family and Childcare across London and the South East. I am a member of the Law Society's Children Panel which means I have demonstrated the required level of competence and specialist knowledge, as defined by the Law Society in all areas of children law and the representation of children. In addition, I am member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and Reunite International.

Although a childcare solicitor, I have past experience practising in both immigration and criminal law. As a result I have experience in undertaking my own advocacy at the Magistrates court and in Bail Applications at the Crown Court. I also represented many clients successfully at the Immigration Tribunals at appeal stage. As a trainee I frequently undertook advocacy including contested cases relating to injunctions, residence and contact applications, interim care order applications, committal to prison applications, before District Judges and Circuit Judges.

I am frequently invited to appear on TV, Radio and the press in the UK to advise and comment on legal issues; I recently appeared on Zee TV for their legal segment on adoption and foster care.

I speak fluent Urdu and Punjabi.

• Legal Practice Diploma (LPC) - Leeds Metropolitan University, 2002-2004
• LLB Law - University of Leeds, 1997-2000

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors 2012-present
• A & N Cares Solicitors, Sheffield February 2012 to May 2012
• Sheffield Family Law Associates, Sheffield 2011-2012
• Graysons Solicitors, Sheffield 2009-2011
• Michael George & Co Solicitors, Dewsbury West Yorkshire 2001-2008
• Qualified as a Solicitor June 2005

• "Adeeba has broad knowledge spanning surrogacy issues, adoption cases and financial proceedings" Legal 500 UK, 2024


• "Adeeba Naseem and her team are standout. They stand above and beyond the expected standards" Legal 500 UK, 2023


• "Adeeba works closely with charities...and has participated in discussions at parliament on international safeguarding." - Rani Bilkhu, founder of the charity Jeena.

"Adeeba has been instrumental in dealing with issues regarding victims who are stranded abroad and has ensured the safe return of abducted children. She is excellent in providing advice on legal remedies available to families inside and outside the UK. On behalf of victims and as an organisation we recognise the invaluable work that Adeeba does." - Rani Bilkhu, found of the charity Jeena.

• Next Generation Partner - The Legal 500, (2024 - 2021)
• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500, (2024 - 2017)

• Accredited Children Panel Member (since 2010)
• Association of Lawyers for Children
• Reunite International

• Duncan Lewis’ London Family Team Named as a Finalist at the Family Law Awards (29 August 2024)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors Highly Commended at the Family Law Awards 2023 (15 September 2023)
• Duncan Lewis secures order for father and return of children to the UK in R-v- G [2022] EWHC 1428 (Fam) (10 August 2023)
• Successful Outcome in Children Act Proceedings: No Indirect Contact Order and Prohibited Steps Order Obtained by Duncan Lewis Solicitors in F v M [2023] EWFC 5 (12 April 2023)
• The Results are in: Duncan Lewis Solicitors Triumphs in The Legal 500 2023 (29 September 2022)
• The Legal 500 2022 Success (30 September 2021)
• R v P (Children: Similar Fact Evidence) (9 December 2020)
• B (A Child : Abduction: Article 13(B)) (23 October 2020)
• LC (A Child - Placement Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 787 (23 June 2020) (29 July 2020)
• Huge success for Duncan Lewis Solicitors in The Legal 500 2020 which sees five lawyers listed in the ‘Next Generation Partners’ list (30 September 2019)
• Divorce Law – reform set to end ‘blame game’ between couples and introduce no-fault divorces (9 April 2019)
• Thinking about Surrogacy? (25 January 2019)
• ‘Divorce Day’– why do so many couples start legal proceedings in January? (7 January 2019)
• Government to launch consultation on no-fault divorce (Albanian Post) (18 October 2018)
• Should I get a Prenuptial Agreement? (8 November 2018)
• Owens v Owens: five year separation upheld in no-fault divorce (26 July 2018)
• The Appointment of 5 New Directors to the Board (10 September 2012)
• Duncan Lewis welcomes Adeeba Naseem, Family/Child Care Solicitor to Harrow (1 August 2012)