Assisted Reproductive Technology Law: The Evolving World of Family Formation (On Demand Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming video replay of the August 2021 webcast, Assisted Reproductive Technology Law: The Evolving World of Family Formation.

Families are being formed and built in many different ways today — but family formation through assisted reproductive technology (“ART”) is now outpacing family formation through adoption as a method outside of traditional means. Family law and health care law practitioners need to ethically and knowledgably advise clients on ART not only as a form of family building, but also their rights, responsibilities, and liabilities. With this new area of law, technology is far outpacing the promulgation of laws and statutes. With such abrupt and evolving change, practitioners must broaden their knowledge and improve their tool sets.

This seminar provides legal professionals, especially those practicing in the areas of family law, adoption, and health care, with an overview of the ART world— in particular, how this evolving world of family building works in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The program presents practical examples, ethical obligations, best practices, and tips for the novice or unwary.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Colleen M. Quinn, Locke & Quinn, PLC / Richmond

Colleen M. Quinn has represented thousands of adopting parents, birth parents, adoptees, agencies, intended parents, surrogates, gestational carriers, donors, and clinics since 1989. After graduating from the College of William and Mary and University of Virginia School of Law, she clerked for the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, The Hon. Harry L. Carrico. She is a Fellow and Past-President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (“AAAA”) and the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (“AAARTA”), serving on the Board of Trustees (2006-10, 2013-2018) and on the Family Formation Charitable Trust Board (2016-17). For AAAA-AAARTA, she served as Chair of the Finance, Revenue, Awards, and Investment Committees (2013-16), Grievance Chair (2015-16), Webinar Chair (2013-15), on AAARTA Executive Council and as Membership Chair (2009-15), as 2011 Mid-Year Conference Chair and 2007 Annual Convention Chair, is an AAARTA Founder (2009), was on the ARTS Committee (2006-09), chaired the Birth Parent Representation Committee (1999 to 2003), and published the AAAA “Representing Birth Parents Handbook” (2003). She is the co-author of several editions of the Virginia CLE® publication Adoption Procedures and Forms: A Guide for Virginia Lawyers, serves/has served as: program chair and speaker for numerous adoption and ART seminars/programs; an expert witness in adoption law and in surrogacy law; previously a certified Guardian ad Litem and Fellow of LCA, a member of the LGBT Bar Family Law Institute, the VA Equality Bar Association, the ABA ART and Adoption Committees, ASRM, RESOLVE, AAJ, RBA, VSB, and VTLA (serving as Chair/Co-Chair for many Committees).

Ms. Quinn is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for her work including recently being named a 2021 Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, recipient of the 2019 VLW "Influential Women in Law" in VA (inaugural class), top “Women Leader in the Law” (in Family Law & Personal Injury 2016-20 by Legal Leaders-American Lawyer and National Law Journal), “Best Lawyers in America” 2014-21, US News & World Report, “Adoption Attorney of the Year” by Lawyers Monthly magazine 2018, recipient of the AAAA President’s Award 2018, MRWBA Women of Achievement Award 2017; Richmond NAWBO “Entrepreneur of the Year” (2016), Virginia State Bar Family Law Service Award (2015), “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by National Trial Lawyers (2012-16), Richmond YWCA Outstanding Woman Award for Law and Government (2011),“Hats Off to Women Award” by ABWA Cavalier Chapter (2011), “Super Lawyer” by Richmond magazine (2006-20) Top 100 (2012-13, 2019-20)/Top 50 (2011) in Virginia, Top 50 (2012-20)/Top 25 (2010-11) Female in Virginia, and Top 50 (2012-13, 2019-20) in Richmond, by Virginia Business magazine as Virginia’s “Legal Elite” (2019-20, 2010-16, 2005), a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2009), the Congressional CCAI “Angels in Adoption” award (2008), LDS Family Services Award of Appreciation in 2006 for Adoption Legislation Initiatives, and a “Super Lawyer” by Richmond magazine (2006-20).
Ms. Quinn is a partner and equity owner in her firm of Locke & Quinn, winner of the Trial Lawyers Board of Regents “2015 Litigator Award” featured on CNN and “Best Law Firms in America” 2015-21, recipient of an “AV” rating, the highest given, and also "Client Champion," by Martindale Hubbell.

Ms. Quinn is Past-President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Richmond Chapter, Past-Secretary of the Richmond NAWBO Foundation Board, Past-Chairman of the Richmond Women’s Business Consortium, Past-President of the Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association, and has served/serves on the Boards of Creating a Family, United Way Women’s Leadership Council, Girl Scouts of Virginia, and the Richmond YWCA (prior Advisory Council & President). She contributes/has contributed to AHA Go Red for Women, Bon Secours Fleur de Le Society (2013 to present), College of William & Mary Robert Boyle Legacy Society and Bell Society (Milestone Member), VSDV Action Alliance, Petersburg Domestic Violence Task Force & LINC. She is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, a Lifetime Girl Scout member and, in her spare time, scuba dives, plays tennis, mountain bikes, and teaches aerobics.