Robin Colesmith

Robin Colesmith has practised in family law for almost twenty years, and at the Victorian Bar since 2009. His practice has concentrated on the harder end of the jurisdiction: matters where property questions collide with bankruptcy, equity, trusts, or the interests of third parties.

He is a co-author of Justice Grant Riethmuller and Robin Smith, Family Law (7th ed, Thomson Reuters, 2022), published under his former name. It is one of the leading texts in the field and is frequently referred to by the courts in judgments.

Robin is a strong supporter of arbitration in family law. He believes a streamlined process delivers the same result the courts would reach, without the delay and court events that precede a final hearing, letting separating parties get on with their lives.

Robin has been a qualified family law arbitrator and on the list of national arbitrators managed by AIFLAM for over a decade. He was one of the first arbitrators to complete the Advanced Specialist Family Law Arbitrator training in 2023.

Before coming to the bar, Robin was an associate at the Federal Magistrates Court and a solicitor practising in commercial and construction law. He holds a doctorate from Monash University and has taught administrative law and evidence there.

Robin is the Victorian Bar representative on the executive of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has served on the Victorian Bar Council and its Ethics Committee.