Jennifer S. Tharrington

Meet Jennifer

Jen focuses her practice exclusively on helping clients grow their families through assisted reproduction and surrogacy. She is an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Fellow of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), a distinction held by only five attorneys in North Carolina.

In her reproductive law practice, Jen has been a pioneer in North Carolina in protecting the rights of intended parents, donors, and surrogates. She works closely with local and national IVF clinics and surrogacy agencies, guiding clients through family-building processes involving egg, sperm, and embryo donation, as well as gestational surrogacy. Her experience spans donor agreements, surrogacy contracts, parentage orders, birth certificate matters, confirmatory adoptions, and the full range of legal needs that arise in assisted reproduction.

Jen is also a recognized educator and thought leader in the field. She has delivered numerous presentations and lectures on reproductive law throughout the state and has taught assisted reproductive technology law at both law schools and medical schools across the region.

A longtime advocate for equality, Jen is deeply committed to ensuring that all families receive acknowledgment, protection, and respect, regardless of how they are formed. She has served the LGBTQ+ community since her time as a law student and brings both personal dedication and professional experience to representing married and unmarried same-sex couples. Her work reflects a strong understanding of the evolving legal landscape affecting LGBTQ+ families at both the state and national levels.

Jen earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Orange County Bar Association, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, and the LGBTQ+ Family Law Institute.

In 2024–2025, Jen served as Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, leading nearly 1,500 family law attorneys across the state. She previously served as Chair of the Modern Family Committee of the Family Law Section, where she helped lead efforts to overhaul North Carolina’s parentage laws to better protect and recognize all families.

Outside of her practice, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cheering on the Tar Heels.