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"The Surrogacy Lawyer"TM

Theresa M. Erickson, Esq.

Bar Admissions:

State Bar of Iowa, 1996
State Bar of California, 1998
United States Supreme Court, 2006
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Southern District of California

Education:

Ms. Erickson attended Indiana State University; University of Hawaii at Manoa (B.A., Summa Cum Laude): and University of San Diego School of Law (J.D.). While at the University of Hawaii, Ms. Erickson was granted membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Golden Key National Honor Society. She also served as a Graduate Research Assistant and a Political Science 110 Instructor. While at the University of San Diego School of Law, Ms. Erickson was awarded the Advanced Trial Advocacy Award of Distinction. She also served as the Director of Finance for Women’s Law Caucus and served on the board of the Pro Bono Legal Aide Society.

Notable Information on Ms. Erickson:

Ms. Erickson is one of the few attorneys in the United States who practices exclusively in the area of Family Formation Law, and she has been doing so now for over a decade. During law school she gained a passion for this field. She initially discovered this area of family planning by choosing to become an egg donor for several couples who desperately wanted a child. In doing so, she helped create numerous children for these families. This very personal experience that Ms. Erickson's passion developed to become a Reproductive Lawyer. Her legal practice is dedicated to exclusively provide legal services in the area of creating families. Ms. Erickson’s passion has not gone unnoticed; she is a nationally recognized expert in this specialized and unique area of law.

Publications – Articles, Notable Cases and Books:

What Were You Thinking? IVF, Surrogacy, Egg, Embryo & Sperm Donation, ISBN Pending

Assisted Reproduction: The Complete Guide to Having a Baby with the Help of a Third Party, ISBN-10: 0595343198

United States Supreme Court – Roman v. Roman, 2008 Associate Counsel for Respondent – Outcome: Writ Denied for Petitioner by the Court

William Mitchell Law Review Article – “What Happens to Embryos When a Marriage Dissolves? Embryos and Divorce

Fertility Today – Ask the Expert Column/Contributing Author

INCIID – Ask the Lawyer

Facing Fertility as a Team – Article

Beginning the Process – a Beginner’s Guide to Surrogacy

ABA Model Code Governing Assisted Reproduction – Involved in Revising

Case Digest Editor, CDAA, People v. Fond, 1999

Case Digest Editor, CDAA, People v. Tindall, 1999

Case Digest Editor, CDAA, Orlina v. Superior Court, 1999

Guest Lectures/Conferences Held:

Conference Host – How Surrogacy & Egg Donation Can Help Create Your Family – Paris, France
November of 2009

Maybe- Baby Workshop – We are Family Conference – Las Vegas, Nevada
September of 2009

Conference Host – How Surrogacy & Egg Donation Can Help Create Your Family – Genève, Switzerland
July of 2009

Smart X – Orlando Round Table Speaker – Working with Surrogacy & Egg Donation Agencies – Your Best Approach is a Team Approach
June of 2009

American Bar Association – Faculty Member on ART CLE
April of 2009

Guest Lecturer – University of San Diego School of Law – “The Octomom and the New World of IVF”
April of 2009

Guest Lecturer – 3rd Annual San Diego Fertility Expo – “Do the Right Thing When Hiring a Surrogacy or Egg Donation Agency”
December of 2008

Faculty Member & Speaker on Parents Rights versus Child Rights in Reproduction – National Perinatal Association Conference
November of 2008

Family Matters – The National Fertility and Adoption Conference of the American Fertility Association.
October 2008 Faculty Panel Expert & Roundtable Discussion Host – “Whose Story is it Anyway? Disclosure Issues and Sibling Registries”

Dr. Radio – Interview on Surrogacy
September of 2008

Family Matters – The National Fertility and Adoption Conference of the American Fertility Association.
February 2008 Faculty Expert – “Infertility Treatments and the Law – Where Do They Collide?”

Family Matters – The National Fertility and Adoption Conference of the American Fertility Association.
2007 Faculty Panel Expert - “I Can’t Get Accepted into an IVF Clinic because of My Age – What are my Options for Creating Parenthood when I’m Over 40? – Medical and Adoption Options” - Co- speakers for this workshop were Jane Miller, M.D., CSW, Susan Frank, CSW, and Robin Fleischner, Esq.

Resolve – The National Fertility Association
February of 2007, February of 2008, & February of 2009 – Guest Lecturer – “Third Party Options for Having a Baby”

University of San Diego School of Law
October of 2006 - USD Jessup Moot Court Tournament Judge

Resolve – The National Fertility Association
February of 2006 – Guest Lecturer – “Egg Donation and Surrogacy”

Resolve – The National Fertility Association
February of 2004 – Guest Lecturer – “Egg Donation and Surrogacy”

Pepperdine University School of Law
March of 2003 - Guest Lecturer - "The Ethical and Moral Issues Surrounding Surrogacy"

Conferences Attended:

ASRM Annual Meetings – 2002 to 2009

ABA, Fall CLE Family Law October 2008 – Session Producer

ABA, Fall CLE Family Law October 2009 - Attendee

Donor Egg Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

Smart Art X – From Physiology to Clinical Success – 2008 & 2009

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Conference – Chicago 2008

Mental Health Professional Group ASRM – Minefields in Reproductive Medicine: Sound Practice for Ethical Decision Making – May of 2009

ABA: Reconceptualizing Child Custody: Lawyers and Psychologists Working Together – ART Law Track – Chicago 2008

Tracking Change: A Donor Registry – Chicago 2008

Hope Uncorked: Fertile Hope Los Angeles – 2008

Forum on ART Law – ACFFL, California 2008

American Association of Law Schools (AALS) – Joint Conference with the Medical Professionals in Art, Canada 2007

Forum on ART Law – ACFFL, California 2006

California State Bar Convention – 2001 to 2009

Professional Associations, Positions, and Memberships:

Faculty Member/Professor – Solo Practice University – Reproductive Law

Board Member – American Fertility Association

Legal Advisory Council – American Fertility Association

Member, Pacific Coast Reproductive Society

Founding Member, American College of Assisted Reproduction & Adoption Lawyers (ACARAL) – Media Liaison

Professional Member, Legal Liaison, & Board Legal Director – Parents via Egg Donation (PVED)

Past Chair Member at Large - EDSPA

Professional Member, American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)

Professional Member, European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (eshre)

Professional Member, American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)

Member, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Member, Society of Assisted Reproductive Professionals

San Diego Bar Association, Family Law Section

Member – San Diego County Bar Association Legislation Committee/State Bar Delegate

Delegate – San Diego Regional Standing Committee for Family Law

State Bar of California, Family Law Section
Professional Member of Resolve

Professional Member of INCIID

INCIID Heart Scholarship Committee Member
Professional Member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) & Legal Section of the ASRM
Professional Member of American Fertility Association (AFA)
American Bar Association, Appointed Executive Committee Member – Reproductive & Genetic Technologies Committee

American Bar Association, Family Law Sections Committee Member

American Biographical Institute, Inc. Award – 2009 Woman of the Year in Medicine & Healthcare

Community Service:

Meals on Wheels San Diego, 2006 - Present

Past Employment Positions:

San Diego, Deputy City Attorney, 1997 – 1999