Getting to know BB: Kelly Blaxall, part of the NGA Law legal team

Getting to know BB is our ongoing series spotlighting each of the members of our team. In their own words, they share a little about themselves, how they came to Brilliant Beginnings and the impact of their work.

This week, you can read all about Kelly, who supports many of our teams through NGA Law.

Getting to know Kelly Blaxall

I work in the legal team at NGA Law. You will find me based at our New Forest office (when I am not working from home with my furry assistant, Fizz).

I am currently working toward qualifying as a family lawyer with CILEx. I am involved in the day to day running of the domestic and international surrogacy cases and have a particular interest in British nationality and immigration for children born through surrogacy. I started with NGA in 2017, as a temporary administration assistant, and never left! I love what I do and believe this makes a real difference to the service we provide.

I began my working life in pensions, before volunteering as a substance misuse adviser and opening up the door to working with children with extreme behavioural difficulties, before studying Psychology at degree level in Bath. I have often thought this was a large jump from psychology to law, but there is so much overlap in what we do and working for NGA does not feel like an average law firm in any event. We are encouraged to think outside the box and there are no bad ideas (which I was delighted to hear when suggesting a pyjama day at work – not a far cry from where we are now – as I write this mid-afternoon in my pyjama bottoms).
I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world, with my much-loved dog and enjoy spending time outdoors and in the New Forest.

I feel very passionately that every family matters, and we come in all shapes and sizes. I truly believe we make a difference to those we work with and feel incredibly lucky to be part of changing the landscape for modern families both here, and overseas.

Although we specialise in surrogacy, I enjoy the varied role my job provides. I create a number of the documents which the whole team use across all of our cases and absolutely love a spreadsheet.

We love to create new legal pathways for those building families and we don’t like to say no! A trait which has followed me from my personal life, where I commonly act as, life-admin assistant, counsellor, dog walker, child carer, proof reader, wisdom giver and pretty much whatever else I am asked for from my friends and family. My work/life/study balance is often on a knife edge, but working as part of such an incredible team makes me proud daily.

I try to give concise and thorough advice and try to think of every possibility to make sure no rock is unturned. Legal advice often creates more questions, than answers (although we do our very best) so please never hesitate to reach out!

Where there is a will there is a way!

By Kelly Blaxall, Legal manager