Barrister

Ben Snedden

Family Law
Phone(09) 379 7658Emailben@bensnedden.co.nz

About Ben

Ben has been practising family law since 2002. His expertise covers all practice areas including both children and property cases. Ben also acts as lawyer for the child and is friendly and approachable.

Teaching and improving advocacy (court work) remains an important focus for Ben. He is on the faculty of the NZLS Litigation Skills programme.

Working with Ben

Ben is a specialist court lawyer.

The instruction of Ben on a case is only through a solicitor (a lawyer in a law firm).

The solicitor will be responsible for the day to day running of a file. This also includes providing advice, drafting documents and any correspondence.

As a barrister, Ben’s job is to give clients specialist legal advice and represent them in court. Ben’s legal advice includes advising on the strengths and weaknesses of a case.

In this way Ben and the solicitor work as a team to best represent a client.

  • All family law areas
  • Mediation and negotiation
  • Family Court and High Court hearings
  • Appeals - High Court and Court of Appeal
  • NZ Bar Association
  • Family Law Section
  • New Zealand Law Society
  • Contested hearings (NZ & England)
  • High Court trial and appellate advocacy
  • Court of Appeal
  • Appointed Lawyer for Child
  • Nygaard v Nygaard [2025] NZFLR 98
  • Ansin v Ramage [2023] NZFLR 742
  • Sutton (Trustees of Sutton Trust) v Bell [2021] NZCA 645
  • Sutton v Bell [2020] NZFLR 27 - High Court
  • Sutton (Trustees of Sutton Trust) v Bell [2017] NZFLR 779 - High Court
  • 2026 - Cradle to Grave – co presenter and writer:PPPR: An Advisor’s Guide to Recent Case Law Themes and Principles
  • 2025 - Legalwise Cross Examination Techniques in the Family CourtCase theory – case analysis – cross examination techniques and examples
  • 2025 - Contributor to NZBA’s submission for the Triennial Legal Aid ReviewIdentifying issues and proposing solutions for current legal aid review
  • 2024 - Law Association Family Law Conference (Panel Presenter)Trial Strategy and Client Management: Insights into effective courtroom strategies and managing client expectations
  • 2024 - Waitākere Bar Cross Examination of Experts Workshop (co-presenter)Included mock cross examination of accountant before audience
  • 2024 - Waitākere Bar Cross Examination Workshop (co-presenter)Case theory – case analysis – cross examination techniques and examples
  • 2023 - Legalwise Affidavit Drafting MasterclassPurpose – rules – managing client – ethics – drafting tips
  • 2020 - Legalwise Drafting for Overseas AssetsJurisdiction – foreign immovable – debts – enforcement
  • 2019 - Legalwise Drafting Section 21A Settlement AgreementsProcedural requirements – difficult topics – challenging agreements
  • 2018 - NZLS CLE Seminar: Gift or Loan?Legal principles – Cases – Protecting a client’s interest – running a case
  • BA (History) & LLB – 2001 – University of Otago
  • St Paul's College, Ponsonby, Auckland
  • Admitted Barrister and Solicitor (NZ) - 2002
  • Admitted Solicitor (England and Wales) – 2005
  • Barrister sole (NZ) – 2016
  • Solicitor advocate (England and Wales) - 2022
Ben Snedden

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