Disrupting Tradition Innovative Strategies in Family & Estate Law
Brintyn Smith
Keynote Speaker –Thought Provoking
Family Law Barrister | Brintyn Smith Barrister
Brintyn Smith (Tūhoe) is a family law barrister based in Warkworth, New Zealand. He describes his role as walking alongside people through some of the hardest chapters of their lives – with kindness, empathy, and respect.
His work centres on children: their care, safety, and voice in the Family Court. As a member of the Court-approved Lawyer for Child panel, Brintyn is regularly appointed to represent children, ensuring their perspectives are genuinely considered. He also acts in cases involving family violence, parenting and guardianship, relocation, and care and protection.
Brintyn is committed to resolving disputes without unnecessary conflict. As an accredited mediator and trained collaborative lawyer, he helps families find solutions that prioritise safety and wellbeing. His early work with Oranga Tamariki gave him valuable insight into child protection and the systemic challenges that families face.
Beyond his legal practice, Brintyn is passionate about practitioner wellbeing. He frequently presents in New Zealand and overseas on professional safety, sustainable practice, and wellness in the legal profession. As an Advisory Board member of The Kind Lawyers, he promotes a vision of law that is both effective and compassionate – grounded in empathy, respect, and collaboration.
Children at the Centre
Resilience begins with purpose. By amplifying children’s voices and prioritising their safety, Brintyn shows how staying anchored in values sustains meaningful practice.
Resolving Without Conflict
Persistence is about finding better ways forward. Through mediation and collaboration, Brintyn demonstrates how family disputes can be resolved with dignity, safety, and lasting impact.
Building Sustainable Practice
Heart is at the core of legal practice. Brintyn’s advocacy for practitioner wellbeing highlights how compassion, balance, and self-care are essential to long-term resilience in the profession.
Keynote: Resilience, Persistence and Heart
When challenges feel insurmountable, what drives us to keep going? In this keynote, Brintyn shares how purpose, persistence, and compassion can sustain practitioners through the hardest moments by sharing his own personal journey.
Drawing on his experience he reflects on resilience not just as endurance, but as the heart of meaningful practice.
He will explore how adversity can be transformed into strength, and how staying connected to values provides clarity in times of uncertainty.
Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, practical insights into building professional and personal resilience, and inspiration to continue their work with strength and heart.