Phone

(09) 379 7658

Email

ben@bensnedden.co.nz

Ben has been practising family law since 2002. His expertise covers all practice areas including both children and property cases. Ben 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.

Practice Areas
  • All family law areas
  • Mediation and negotiation
  • Family Court and High Court hearings
  • Appeals - High Court and Court of Appeal
Memberships
  • NZ Bar Association
  • Family Law Section
  • New Zealand Law Society
Experience
  • Contested hearings (NZ & England)
  • High Court trial and appellate advocacy
  • Court of Appeal
  • Appointed Lawyer for Child
Reported Cases
  • 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
Seminar Presentations
  • Legalwise Cross Examination Techniques in the Family Court – 2025
  • Law Association Family Law Conference (Panel Presenter) – 2024
  • Waitākere Bar Cross Examination of Experts Workshop (co - presenter) – 2024
  • Waitākere Bar Cross Examination Workshop (co - presenter) – 2024
  • Faculty NZLS Litigation Skills programme – 2024 to current
  • Legalwise Affidavit Drafting Masterclass – 2023
  • Presenter NZLS Stepping Up programme (Barrister workshop) - 2016 to current
  • Legalwise Drafting for Overseas Assets – 2020
  • Legalwise Family Law Forum - Drafting Section 21A Settlement Agreements: A Practitioner's Check List – 2019
  • NZLS CLE Seminar: Gift or Loan? – 2018
Education
  • BA (History) & LLB – 2001 – University of Otago
  • St Paul's College, Ponsonby, Auckland
Qualifications
  • Admitted Barrister and Solicitor (NZ) - 2002
  • Admitted Solicitor (England and Wales) – 2005
  • Barrister sole (NZ) – 2016
  • Solicitor advocate (England and Wales) - 2022
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