![Professor Katarina Trimmings Professor Katarina Trimmings](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/law553/21829.jpg)
FHEA
Personal Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- k.trimmings@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 272415
- Office Address
- School/Department
- School of Law
Biography
Katarina Trimmings joined the Law School of the University of Aberdeen as a Lecturer in August 2012 and was later promoted to a Senior Lecturer. She is a co-founder and the Director of the Centre for Private International Law at the Law School of the University of Aberdeen.
Professor Trimmings is an internationally recognized expert in the field of International Family Law, in particular in the areas of international parental child abduction and cross-border surrogacy. Her research has explored new avenues and developed unique perspectives, including the Private International Law perspective and the Child’s Rights perspective on surrogacy, and analysis of the implications of societal challenges such as domestic abuse on the legal resolution of parental child abduction cases. She has written a monograph on child abduction (Hart, 2013); and is the first editor of a recently published book on the intersection between child abduction and domestic violence (Intersentia, 2022). She is also the first editor of a highly regarded and frequently cited book on international surrogacy arrangements (Hart, 2013) and a forthcoming research handbook on surrogacy (Elgar Publishing, 2023). Professor Trimmings is also the co-author of the 15th edition of Cheshire, North & Fawcett, Private International Law (OUP, 2017).
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Director of the Centre for Private International Law at the Law School of the University of Aberdeen http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/research/centre-for-private-international-law-70.php
Academic Line Manager
Law School Grants Lead
Personal Tutor
Student Progression Convenor
- External Memberships
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Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Research
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Research Overview
- International Family Law
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Law.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Current Research
Dr Trimmings' current research centres on the themes of surrogacy and international parental child abduction. Additionally, she is interested in the adequacy and potential reform of the Private International Law regulation post-Brexit. At present, Dr Trimmings is working on two collaborative RSE-funded projects: 1.) ‘Protection of international families with links to the European Union post-Brexit: Collaborative Scotland-EU Partnership’ (PI); and 2.) ‘Laying the Foundations for a Restatement of Scots Private International Law’ (Co-I). Both projects aim to assess the implications of Brexit for Scots Private International Law with a view to proposing necessary reforms (Co-I).
Past Research
Dr Trimmings has recently completed a number of externally funded research projects as the PI and conducted several commissioned studies. Her research concentrated on two themes. They build on her interests in intersections between legal fields and their impact on addressing societal challenges through innovative legal solutions that are scholarly robust and of use for policymakers, legal profession and wider public. Theme 1 is intersection between domestic violence and international parental child abduction; and theme 2 is the child right’s perspective as a basis for regulation of the legal status of children.
Featured activity:
- POAM project. Funded by the EU (PI).
- Research study into attitudes towards the reform of the law governing surrogacy amongst judges and legal practitioners in Scotland. Funded by the Clark Foundation (PI).
- Project 'Reproductive Health Care and Policy Concerns: Regulation of Surrogacy Arrangements in Sri Lanka and Lessons Learned from the United Kingdom'. Funded by the British Council (PI).
- Development of legal principles for the protection of the rights of the child born through surrogacy (‘Verona Principles’) (co-author).
- Research study on the reform of the European Convention on the Legal Status of Children Born Out of Wedlock. Commissioned and funded by the Council of Europe. Output: policy report
Research Handbook on Surrogacy and the Law
The Research Handbook on Surrogacy and the Law, edited by Katarina Trimmings, Sharon Shakargy and Claire Achmad has been published (March 2024).
Collaborations
- POAM Project research team - see https://research.abdn.ac.uk/poam/research-team/
- Associate Members of the Centre for Private International (i.e. an extensive network of Private International Law scholars from around the world) - see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/research/associate-members-73.php.
Funding and Grants
- Royal Society of Edinburgh, Saltire Network Scheme (2022) - Project: 'Protection of international families with links to the European Union post-Brexit: Collaborative Scotland-EU partnership (‘International Families post-Brexit’)' (PI)
- Royal Society of Edinburgh, Research Workshop Grants Scheme (2022) - Project: 'Laying the Foundations for a Restatement of Scots Private International Law' (Co-I)
- Council of Europe (2021) - Project: 'Review of the Implementation of the European Convention on the Legal Status of Children Born Out of Wedlock' (PI)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership Programme (2021) - Project: 'Time to Become Digital in Law ('DIGinLaw')' (Co-I)
- British Council, South Asia Small-Scale Research Project Scheme (2020) - Project: 'Reproductive Health Care and Policy Concerns: Regulation of Surrogacy Arrangements in Sri Lanka and Lessons Learned from the United Kingdom (‘Surrogacy in Sri Lanka’)' (PI)
- Clark Foundation for Legal Education (2019) - Project: 'UK Surrogacy Law Reform: Exploring the Application of Surrogacy Laws, Attitudes towards Surrogacy, and Attitudes towards the Reform of the Law Governing Surrogacy amongst Judges and Legal Practitioners in Scotland’ (PI)
- European Union, Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2018) - Project: 'Protection of Abducting Mothers in Return Proceedings: Intersection between Domestic Violence and Parental Child Abduction' (POAM Project)' (PI)
- European Union, Civil Justice Programme (2013) - Project: 'Cross-Border Litigation in Europe: Private International Law Legislative Framework, National Courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union' (EUPILLAR Project)' (Co-I)
- EU Lifelong Learning Programme, the Jean Monnet Scheme (2012). Project aim: organisation of a series of workshops on cross-border litigation in Europe. (Co-I)
- Nuffield Foundation (2010) - Project: 'International Surrogacy Arrangements: An Urgent Need for Legal Regulation at the International Level' (Postdoc)
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Dr Trimmings is the course co-ordinator for the following courses:
1.) Family Law (Honours) LS401V
2.) International Family Law (Honours) LS451T
3.) Private International Law LS2532
In addition, Dr Trimmings participates in teaching on the following courses:
1.) Family Law LS2526
2.) Law & Medical Ethics (Honours) LS4553
3.) Introduction to Comparative Law LS2536
- Publications
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Research handbook on surrogacy and the law
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.. 546 pagesBooks and Reports: Books- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207651
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Surrogacy and the law: An introduction
Research Handbook on Surrogacy and the Law. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., pp. 1-6, 6 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802207651.00005
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
From Theory to Practice in Private International Law: Gedächtnisschrift for Professor Jonathan Fitchen
Hart, Oxford, Oxford. 336 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksIntroduction
From Theory to Practice in Private International Law: Gedächtnisschrift for Professor Jonathan Fitchen: Gedächtnisschrift for Professor Jonathan Fitchen. Borg-Barthet, J., Trimmings, K., Yüksel Ripley, B., Živkovic, P. (eds.). Hart PublishingChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersPrivate International Law as the Final Frontier for Feminist Scholarship?
From Theory to Practice in Private International Law: Gedächtnisschrift for Professor Jonathan Fitchen: Gedächtnisschrift for Professor Jonathan Fitchen. Borg-Barthet, J., Trimmings, K., Yüksel Ripley, B., Živkovic, P. (eds.). Hart PublishingChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersThe Interplay between the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Domestic Violence
Laws, vol. 12, no. 5, 78Contributions to Journals: Special IssuesResponse to European Commission Consultation on Digitalisation of Cross-border Judicial Cooperation
14 pages.Other Contributions: Other ContributionsIntersection between Domestic Violence and International Parental Child Abduction: Protection of Abducting Mothers in Return Proceedings
International Journal of Law, Policy and The Family, vol. 35, no. 1, ebab001Contributions to Journals: ArticlesInternational family law in the United Kingdom beyond Brexit: Focus on matrimonial matters and future interpretation of habitual residence of the child.
Volume XXII Yearbook of Private International Law – 2020/2021. Bonomi, A., Romano, G. P., Pretelli, I. (eds.). de Gruyter, pp. 77-94, 18 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersReturn of a child under the 1980 Hague child abduction convention to a ‘third state’?
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 202-204Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSurrogacy arrangements and the best interest of the child: the human rights and private international law dimensions in the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights
Fundamental Rights and the Best Interest of the Child in Transnational Families. Bergamini, E., Ragni, C. (eds.). IntersentiaChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersNon-Uniform Application of European Union Private International Law
Diversity and Integration in Private International Law . Ruiz Abou-Nigm, V., Blanca Noodt Taquela, M. (eds.). Edinburgh University Press, pp. 83-94, 12 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474447850.003.0006
Surrogacy before the European Court of Human Rights
Eastern and Western Perspectives on Surrogacy. Scherpe, J. M., Fenton-Glynn, C., Kaan, T. (eds.). Intersentia, pp. 329-Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersProtection of Abducting Mothers in Return Proceedings: Intersection between Domestic Violence and Parental Child Abduction
Commissioned by European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020.Books and Reports: Commissioned ReportsChoice of law aspects of non-consensual adoption of Eastern European children in England and Wales
International Family Law, no. 3, pp. 202-209Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCheshire, North & Fawcett: Private International Law
Oxford University PressBooks and Reports: BooksCourt of Justice of the European Union's Case Law on Family Law Matters Under Brussels IIa and Maintenance
Cross-Border Litigation in Europe. Beaumont, P., Trimmings, K., Danov, M., Yuksel, B. (eds.). Hart PublishingChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)Cross-Border Litigation in Europe
Hart Publishing. 864 pagesBooks and Reports: Books- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781782256793
Cross-border Litigation in Europe: Some Theoretical Issues and Some Practical Challenges
Cross-Border Litigation in Europe. Beaumont, P., Danov, M., Trimmings, K., Yüksel, B. (eds.). Hart Publishing, pp. 819-832, 14 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781782256793.ch-047
Matrimonial Matters Under the Brussels IIa Regulation
Cross-Border Litigation in Europe. Beaumont, P., Danov, M., Trimmings, K., Yuksel, B. (eds.). Hart PublishingChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)National Report: Great Britain
Cross-Border Litigation in Europe. Beaumont, P., Danov, M., Trimmings, K., Yuksel, B. (eds.). Hart Publishing, pp. 79-124, 45 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781782256793.ch-005
Transfer of Jurisdiction and the Best Interests of the Child
Cambridge Law Journal, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 471-474Contributions to Journals: Comments and DebatesApplication for a parental order by a single commissioning father refused by the High Court
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 91-93Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2016.1145839
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Parentage and surrogacy in a European perspective
European Family Law: Family Law in a European Perspective. Scherpe, J. M. (ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, pp. 232-283, 52 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785363054.00016
Recent Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in the Area of Cross-Border Surrogacy: Is There Still a Need for Global Regulation of Surrogacy?
Migrant Children in the XXI Century: Selected Issues of Public and Private International Law. Biagioni, G., Ippolito, F. (eds.). Editoriale ScientificaChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters