Colin Abernethy

I have been practising family law at Harmans Lawyers since 2007 and was appointed a Partner in 2014. I hold a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the University of Canterbury."relationship property and spousal maintenance disputes. the protection of assets prior to a relationship.

the division of assets upon separation including personally owned assets, companies and trusts.care of children, guardianship and family violence disputes. Family Court-appointed Lawyer for Child work, Colin is a lead legal aid provider.

I was elected Chairperson of the Christchurch Family Courts Association in 2015 and again in 2016. In March 2015 I was appointed Convenor of the Canterbury-Westland Family Law Committee (having started his term on that Committee in 2011). Following the conclusion of my term as Convenor in 2019, I was then appointed by the New Zealand Family Law Section as their Canterbury Regional Representative, that term ending in 2021. In 2022 I was appointed to the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Family Law Section, a role that I currently occupy and sees me advancing family law issues at a national level. In addition to my Family Courtroom experience, I am also a Collaboratively Trained Lawyer, being able to offer clients an alternative litigation-free approach to resolving all issues that arise following a separation. In 2022 I was appointed to the national Collaborative Resolution New Zealand Executive Committee.