Stewart is a leading voice in family formation law, advising on surrogacy, adoption, donor‐conception and co‐parenting agreements with a focus on clarity, dignity, and children’s best interests. His practice brings together technical expertise and lived experience, giving families practical, compassionate guidance through complex legal processes.
In 2015, Stewart and his partner became New Zealand’s first same‐sex de facto couple granted the right to jointly adopt – an historic Family Court ruling that opened the door for other couples to form legal parenthood through adoption.
Beyond his own family’s journey, Stewart has helped shape precedent in this area, including achieving recognition that two mothers can be named on a child’s birth certificate in certain assisted‐reproduction contexts – ensuring the law reflects modern family realities. Stewart’s commitment to inclusive, community‐centred education shows up in his work preparing resources and events that support rainbow families as they plan and parent, making pathways and paperwork easier to understand.
