Modern Fertility Law, the firm of Milena O'Hara, Esq.
Third-party assisted reproductive law attorney, including surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, and embryo donation.
It was a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues at SEEDS 2026 Conference this month! Two days of education, meaningful conversations, connection, and community across third-party family building. From evolving ethical questions and mental health to genetic testing, transparency, AI, and more, it was an assembly of voices and perspectives from across the field. Keynote Speaker was Laura High, a stand-up comedian and advocate for donor conceived rights.
I didn’t climb the Matterhorn. I hiked the mountains around it, and that turned out to be the better vantage point. Every turn in the trail gave me a new view of the peak, and each one was more striking than the last. Photos flatten it. In person, you feel the scale, and you realize how much of the mountain you can’t see from where you’re standing.
I kept thinking about my clients.
Most people who come to me are looking at the summit: a baby, a family, the moment they’ve hoped for. That’s the right thing to keep in sight. But the Matterhorn taught me something while I was walking toward it: you don’t see the route from a distance. You see it step by step.
In third-party reproduction, the route includes agreements to draft, parentage orders to secure, insurance to sort out, compensation and escrow to structure, and clinics, agencies, and medical timelines to coordinate. Surrogates and donors have their own trail, too. They deserve a clear map of what’s ahead for them, not just a thank-you.
I wouldn’t have set out in those mountains without good boots, poles, water, and a plan. The same is true of this work. Carefully drafted agreements, clear expectations about communication and decision-making, and a shared understanding of what happens in different scenarios aren’t signs of distrust. They’re what let everyone walk with confidence, because the hard conversations happened early, when they were easiest to have.
The sky was brilliant blue the day I took my photo, but anyone who hikes the Alps knows that can change fast. Family-building is similar. Cycles don’t always go as planned, timelines shift, and emotions surface unexpectedly. I can’t promise perfect weather. What I can do is make sure there’s a plan for when conditions change and that everyone knows where the shelter is.
Every family’s path looks different, and every step deserves care and respect. If you’re an intended parent, a prospective surrogate, or a donor, I’d be glad to help you understand the route ahead.
Had a wonderful time attending the International Filiation Law in the EU at the University of Bonn in Germany this month! We analyzed the topic of cross-border filiation and legal parenthood issues, including complex cases like surrogacy and co-parentage. The conference was organized by the Institut für Internationales Privatrecht und Rechtsvergleichung (Institute for Private International Law and Comparative Law), centering on the academic, political, and human rights reactions to the EU Parenthood Proposal.
While in Bonn, I dropped into the Beethoven-Haus, a museum studying the life and work of composer Ludwig van Beethoven. It’s also the location of his birthplace. The immersive experience looked at various aspects of his life including his work, his network of friends, his patrons, his loved ones, his instruments, and his blows of fate. Now I understand why my grandmother loved him so much. What an inspiring life!
