Victoria Maxwell
Senior Associate Solicitor
Victoria Maxwell
Senior Associate Solicitor
Victoria is an Associate Solicitor in our Chilgrove office who has experience in all areas of family law, including finances upon divorce and private children matters. Victoria has developed a particular specialism in international surrogacy. One of Victoria’s complex international surrogacy cases, concerning a child born via a gestational surrogacy arrangement in India, has been published in the law reports: QR (Parental Order: Dispensing with Consent: Proportionality) [2023] EWHC 3196 (Fam).
As a member of Resolution Victoria is committed to resolving disputes constructively and has successfully managed to settle a large proportion of her cases without needing to resort to litigation.
Victoria was named Rising Star two years’ running in the Legal 500 in 2022 and 2023, and is a finalist for the Rising Star Award at the Resolution Awards 2024. The Resolution shortlisting recognises Victoria’s “outstanding contributions to the family justice sector” and “unwavering commitment to the Resolution Code of Practice”.
Career History
Prior to joining Edward Cooke Family Law in May 2023, Victoria obtained over 10 years of family law experience in London. She practised as a specialist family lawyer in London for 5 years with a Central London Firm, having qualified into their Family Team in 2018.
Victoria actually started her legal career in 2012 in Central London, where she gained significant experience working as a paralegal at two leading Family Law Firms, assisting on complex high-net-worth matters, often with an international element, before starting her training contract in 2016.
Prior to that Victoria graduated from the University of the West of England with First Class Honours in Law (LLB) and went on to attain her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Guildford, where she obtained a commendation.
Areas of Work
Victoria is experienced in dealing with all areas of family law work, including financial issues arising on divorce and separation, child arrangements, relocation cases, nuptial agreements and surrogacy arrangements (usually with an international element).
Professional Background
Victoria is a member of Resolution.
Client Feedback
Victoria was ranked as a rising star two years’ running in the Legal 500 directory 2022 and 2023 edition and a Recommended Lawyer in 2024.
Legal 500 2024
“Victoria Maxwell at Edward Cooke Family Law is an exceptionally bright, forward thinking solicitor with a special interest and expertise in surrogacy cases."
Legal 500 2023
“I have worked with Victoria on a number of complex surrogacy cases. She is a first class lawyer who has rightly acquired a reputation as one of the go to lawyers for surrogacy cases. She continually punches above her weight and has the knowledge, wisdom and experience of a partner.”
“Victoria Maxwell is a great family lawyer. Very friendly manners, available on short notice, super responsive. She has developed an excellent knowledge of all issues regarding surrogacy (including the recognition of foreign surrogacy into the UK).”
Legal 500 2022
“Extremely knowledgeable and experienced in complicated international surrogacy cases. She has vast experience dealing with other aspects of the HFEA 2008, she is forensic in her analysis when it comes to dealing with difficult cases.”
Legal 500 2021
“Victoria Maxwell is exceptional. She is a natural in dealing with complex international surrogacy cases. I often forget that she is only a few years’ PQE, as she has the knowledge and wisdom of a partner, without being over confident.”
Outside of Work
Victoria grew up on a farm near Chilgrove and following a decade in London has moved back to her roots.
Outside of work Victoria can usually be found in the kitchen cooking up a storm or walking through the South Downs.