Family Law Conference 2026 (In Person)

Judge Goodwin was appointed a District Court Judge in 2016. He began legal practice as a solicitor in London, practising in family law, housing law and serious crime. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1994 and built a practice in family law. Before moving to Eden Street Chambers as a barrister, he was a managing partner at Corban Revell Lawyers. He holds General and Family warrants, and sits in Manukau.

Judge Gray was appointed as a Family Court judge in 2025 and sits in Auckland Family Court. She was previously a family lawyer practising in Wellington. Judge Gray practiced in all areas of family law. She has a particular interest in medico legal, disability and PPPR matters. She was appointed as lawyer for subject person and was a District Inspector under both the Mental Health Act and IDCCR Act.

David Harvey (LLB; MJur; PhD) is a retired District Court Judge. He sat full time from 1989 to 2016 and with an Acting Warrant from April 2018 to December 2021. Prior to his appointment to the Bench, he practised as a barrister and solicitor in litigation for 18 years. He taught Law and Information Technology, an undergraduate paper, for 18 years, and has been involved in a number of Judicial Education programmes particularly in the area of cybercrime, evidence and the judiciary and the media. He has written numerous journal articles, presented at conferences in New Zealand and internationally, and continues to mentor young lawyers and write legal columns.

Alex is a senior barrister specialising in Family Law, with over 35 years’ legal experience. Admitted in 1990, he practised as a solicitor for 17 years, including 12 years as a partner in a Waitakere City firm, before joining the independent bar in 2007. Based in Auckland, his practice focuses on relationship property, family protection claims, and matters involving children. Alex has particular expertise in Hague Convention international child abduction cases and is regularly appointed by the Central Authority. He also has extensive appellate experience, appearing in Family Court appeals for more than 20 years. Alex holds a BCom/LLB and a Master’s degree with First Class Honours, and has presented on family law topics both in New Zealand and internationally.

Vanessa has been practising law for over 20 years, starting out as a solicitor for Oranga Tamariki, before becoming a barrister. Vanessa has a general family law practice but predominately specialises in advocating for children in the Family Court and young people in the Youth Court, in South Auckland.

Theresa graduated from Auckland University in 1992 and has a wealth of experience in Elder Law and Trust-related matters. Theresa was formerly from Public Trust (Senior Solicitor and Team Leader) and the Ministry of Social Development where she was lead Senior in the Public Law Team, working with Parliamentary Counsel, Older People’s Policy and the Office of Senior Citizens. Theresa worked on the 2017 changes to the EPA forms. She is a regular presenter to professional groups such as TLANZ, NZLS, CCH, STEP, and Legalwise, and is known for her practical approach.

Jennie, a director at Haigh Lyon Lawyers, co-leads the firm’s vibrant and effective family law team. Certified Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, she’s recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a foremost expert in New Zealand on relationship property and family law. Jennie has 20 years’ experience in family law and is a contributing author to Westlaw’s family property and family procedure chapters.

After starting working life in education, Chris was admitted to the bar in 1995 and immediately started working for the organisation which is now known as Oranga Tamariki. Working in both Youth Justice and Care and Protection involved engagement in situations where young persons with particular challenges transition from the Oranga Tamariki Act framework but require the ongoing scaffolding available under the PPPR Act. For the last 3 years Chris has been practising as a barrister currently working primarily in COCA, Family Violence and Oranga Tamariki Act proceedings.

Georgia is a Senior Associate in the Family Law team at Wynn Williams in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She advises on complex relationship property disputes, contracting out agreements, trust and estate matters, spousal maintenance, PPPR issues, and care of children and guardianship disputes. She brings strong technical expertise and calm, practical judgment to sensitive family law matters, including helping clients to protect property interests before or during relationships.

Jeremy is a member of Bankside Chambers in Auckland and Bankside Singapore. He is one of New Zealand’s leading litigation and dispute resolution barristers with particular expertise in the fields of private wealth, relationship property, equity and trust and commercial law. Jeremy works on cases across New Zealand and in the wider Asia-Pacific Region. Valued for his discretion, he is considered one of New Zealand’s leading private wealth barristers and he often undertakes cross-border private wealth work. He was the youngest person in history to become a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. As a recognised leader in the community, Jeremy was awarded the King's Service Medal in the 2025 New Year Honours.

Reagan is a specialist family law barrister, with a particular focus on care of children, relationship property, family violence and Oranga Tamariki matters. She has practised in Hawkes Bay, Sydney and Auckland, acting for both private and legally aided clients.

Jeremy specialises in family law, with an emphasis on complex relationship property cases. Jeremy has extensive family law and general litigation expertise. He is a past convenor of the Family Courts Association. Jeremy is a trustee of START and a court approved lawyer for child.

Dr Bahrie Veliu is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in high-conflict Family Court contexts as a report writer and treatment provider. She provides specialist training, supervision, and consultation for family lawyers and other Family Court professionals, supporting reflective practice and psychologically informed decision-making. Dr Veliu is the founder of PsychLens, an initiative that promotes interdisciplinary practice by translating psychological frameworks into practical tools for lawyers, judges, mediators, and other Family Court professionals. Alongside her clinical and consultation work, she provides professional education through blogs, LinkedIn, and written resources focused on improving outcomes for children and families.

Stuart commenced practising in 1979 as an old-fashioned law clerk while completing his law degree. After admission in 1982, Stuart practised in the criminal and family courts before specialising exclusively in family law from the late 1980s. Stuart has practised as a Barrister Sole since 1990, was a contributing author to Brookers Family Law on Relationship Property and is convenor of TLANZ's Family Law Committee. His practice is now principally in the areas of relationship property and complex COCA cases.

Alissa is a partner and Chair of the Board at McVeagh Fleming. She has been practising family law since 2003, initially in Christchurch before joining McVeagh Fleming in Auckland in 2011. Alissa specialises in relationship property, estate, and trust disputes, care of children, family violence and mediation. She is also an accredited NZLS Panel of Mediators Family Specialist, a trained Collaborative Practitioner, and a Lawyer for Child.

Jessica (Ngāti Raukawa) is a family lawyer with particular interests in Care of Children, Family Violence, Relationship Property and matters involving Oranga Tamariki. Jessica regularly appears in the Family Courts across Auckland, and in other regions of New Zealand.

Zandra is an experienced family lawyer with over 20 years in practice. She leads the Tompkins Wake family law team in Auckland.  Zandra’s expertise covers all aspects of family law including division of relationship and trust property, contracting out agreements, spousal maintenance, child support and reproductive law. She appears regularly in the Family Court and has appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.