Inger Blackford
Inger is available to take instructions on a broad range of family law issues and works with a number of firms of solicitors who regularly brief her on matters. Inger's terms and conditions of engagement are available upon request.
Inger Blackford is a specialist family law barrister based in central Auckland, New Zealand, with over 30 years’ experience. She joined the independent bar in 2006 and co-founded Trinity Chambers with Simon Jefferson KC and Lisa Soljan, establishing a leading family law chambers.
She provides advice and representation in domestic and international family law matters, including appellate work, with a particular focus on complex, high-value, and cross-border cases. Inger has also been engaged as an expert witness in overseas proceedings. Although based in Auckland Inger regularly accepts briefs from around New Zealand and appears in all courts both within and outside Auckland.
Inger is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and is President-Elect of the Asia-Pacific Chapter. Her contributions include chairing both the Education and the Outreach and Expansion Sub-Committees, and she continues to serve on the Global Expansion Sub-Committee.
She is committed to the New Zealand profession, mentoring through the New Zealand Bar Association and serving on the New Zealand Law Society’s panel assessing lawyers seeking to practise on their own account.
Internationally, Inger is a former Co-Chair of the LAWASIA Family Law & Family Rights Section and has represented New Zealand on its committee since 2005. She has also served on the New Zealand Law Society’s International Family Law Issues Standing Committee.
For nearly 20 years, she has been on the specialist panel approved to act for New Zealand’s Central Authority in Hague Convention child abduction and maintenance cases.
Born in Queensland, Inger trained in New Zealand and has practised in both New Zealand and Oxford, UK. She maintains strong Australian connections, including long-standing membership of the Law Council of Australia’s Family Law Section, and regularly attends and speaks at Australian family law conferences.
She is regularly briefed by firms across New Zealand and internationally. Terms of engagement are available on request.
Professional Associations
New Zealand Law Society
Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society
LAWASIA
Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
New Zealand Bar Association
Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
Speaking Engagements
A sample of Inger’s most recent speaking engagements include:
Moderator, IAFL Asia Pacific Meeting – Kuala Lumpur (May 2026)
Variation of Overseas Child Maintenance Orders.Presenter, New Zealand Law Society Webinar (March 2026)- Relocation.
Moderator, IAFL Asia Pacific Meeting – Hong Kong (November 2025) The Hague Convention: Defending an Application for Child Abduction – to what extent does the child have a say?
Presenter, NZLS Family Law Conference – Auckland (October 2025)
The Hague Convention and Family Violence – When is it a Grave Risk?Presenter, Singapore Family Law Conference (September 2025) “It Takes a Village, but What if the Village has no Rights?” – International perspectives on the role of extended family in custody disputes.
Presenter, NZLS Southland Family Law Intensive (May 2025)- The Hague Convention – How Best to Advise Clients.
Presenter, Australian Family Law Conference, Perth (November 2024) – “Order Up – A World Tour of Australian Legal Enforcement Strategies in Financial Matters – The View from Across the Ditch in New Zealand”.
Presenter, NZLS Otago Southland Law Conference (May 4, 2024)
What to do when your family law case crosses international borders?Panel Presenter, IAFL Asia Pacific Chapter – Introduction to International Family Law Symposium (February 2024).
Presenter, Legalwise Seminar on Relationship Property (September 2022) Trusts and the Property (Relationships) Act 1976.
Presenter, Legalwise Seminar – Relationship Property: Issues and Challenges (2022) Trusts and the Property (Relationships) Act 1976.
Panel Presenter, LAWASIA Virtual Annual Conference (November 2021)
Family Law & Family Rights – Family Law Practice.Presenter, Legalwise Seminar (September 2021)- Relationship Property: The Latest Issues and Challenges – Trusts and Relationship Property.
Chair, Legalwise Family Law Evidence and Advocacy Masterclass Webinar Programme (March 2021).
Chair, Legalwise Webinar – Family Law Evidence and Advocacy Masterclass Programme (March 2021).
Presenter, ADLS Family Law Conference (November 2020)
What happens when it all breaks down? Trusts and Relationship Property.Chair, Legalwise Family Law Drafting Webinar (August 2020).
Presenter, ADLS Seminar (June 2020)- Notices of Claim.
Chair, Legalwise Litigation & Disputes Programme (Family Law) (March 2020).
Publications & Speaking
Inger is a frequent speaker, moderator, and chair at both domestic and international conferences, with a strong focus on international family law, the Hague Convention, and cross-border legal issues.
Publications
Inger's publications and presentations include the following;;
Refugee Applicants and the Hague Convention
The Family Advocate (NZLS) – Volume 17, Issue 4 (June 2016).What’s going on in Australia with the Hague Convention?
The Family Advocate (NZLS) – Volume 17, Issue 2 (November 2015).International Travel Child Consent Agreement – The answer to all your travel woes? The Family Advocate (NZLS) – Volume 15, Issue 1 (September 2013).
Examining the Family Court Review- LexisNexis.
Joint Parenting - LAWASIA (October 2011).
Judicial Interpretations of Day-to-Day Care and Contact- LexisNexis.
Knowing Your Client’s Rights and Remedies – Trusts and Companies
LexisNexis.International Property Issues- New Zealand Law Society.
Discovering the Evidence- LexisNexis.
Alternative Families – A Uniquely New Zealand Perspective- International Family Law Journal (LexisNexis).