Michael Taussig was there in 1976 when the Family Law Act started and was involved in many leading cases which developed its jurisprudence. Michael was a solicitor and one of the very few in Victoria ever to have been awarded the title of the Queens Council even though he did not practice at the bar. He was a brave warrior during his many years of service on the executive of the Family Law Section, including as chair for four years.Few people who were at the Section’s 1998 National Conference in Hobart will forget Michael’s State of the Nation speech when, in the presence of the then Commonwealth Attorney-General, and using PowerPoint, he rated the Attorney’s performance 1 1/2 out of 10 measured against the 10 promises made some years earlier in the Attorney’s National Press Club speech on family law. Many promised reforms happened after that. Michael was passionate, brilliant, meticulously prepared, thoughtful, modest, courteous and always punctual. Michael was the very model of a modern family lawyer.

Martin Bartfeld AM KC

Martin graduated from Monash University with a B. Juris., LLB. in 1973. He was admitted to practice in Victoria in 1974 and commenced to practise as a solicitor in 1975 until signing the Roll of Counsel in 1986. He was admitted to practise as a barrister in New South Wales in 1987. He was appointed as a Queens Counsel in Victoria in 1998. He qualified as a Family Law Arbitrator in 1998.

He practises in Family Law and Domestic Relationships matters in the Family Law Courts and in the Supreme Courts of the States and Territories. He is an arbitrator and also conducts mediations.

He was the chairman of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria from 1983 to 1985. He was a member of the executive of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia between 2000 and 2012. He was chairman of the Family Law Section in 2005.

He was awarded an AM in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Ian Kennedy AM

Ian is Senior Partner of Kennedy Partners. He has an extensive and highly-regarded national and international family law practice, primarily in major financial cases and difficult multi-jurisdictional matters. Ian has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide and Legal Profiles for his expertise in handling complex matters, with his position as “Australia’s best” in cross-border matters “widely noted”.

Ian’s outstanding contributions to the law, legal education and national and international professional organisations have been recognised by appointment as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) and numerous awards including the Law Council of Australia President’s Medal and Life Membership of the LCA Family Law Section.

Ian served as President of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers from 2008 to 2010 and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia from 2005 to 2008. He was Editor of Australian Family Lawyer from 1988 to 2016 and is a former Executive Member of the International Bar Association Family Law Committee.

Dr Robin Colesmith

Dr Robin Colesmith was called to the Victorian Bar in 2009. He practices exclusively in family law, specialising in matters with complex questions of law, including matters with issues related to bankruptcy, equity, trusts, and third-party disputes. He has a strong appeal practice, regularly drafting appeal documents and appearing at appeal hearings. He is a qualified family law arbitrator.

Prior to coming to the bar, Robin was an associate at the Federal Magistrates Court and a solicitor in a boutique commercial and construction law firm, practicing in both litigious and non-litigious matters. Robin has been a sessional teaching associate at the Faculty of Law at Monash University teaching administrative law and evidence.

Robin holds a doctoral degree from Monash University specialising in international law and has worked for the United Nations at a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Robin is also a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

He is a member of the Victorian Family Law bar association, of which he was the treasurer from 2014 to 2020. In 2020/2021, he was an Assistant Honorary Secretary to the Victorian Bar Council. In 2021/2022, he was elected as a member of the Victorian Bar Council.

Laura Johnston

Laura specialises in family law and has practised exclusively in the area since coming to the bar in 2016. Laura is a nationally accredited Mediator and Arbitrator.  

Prior to coming to the bar, Laura worked as a solicitor. She also previously worked as Legal Associate for Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO and the Honourable Peter Young AM KC, at the Family Court of Australia (as it was then known).

Laura is consistently recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a leading family law barrister and mediator, both in Victoria and Australia. In the 2026 Doyle’s Guide, Laura was listed as one of:

• Australia’s preeminent family law barristers;
• Victoria’s preeminent family law barristers;
• Victoria’s preeminent parenting and children’s matters barristers; and
• Victoria’s recommended family law mediators. 

Laura regularly presents papers and speaks on family law topics. She graduated from Melbourne University with First Class Honours. She was awarded the Wright Prize, as the top ranked student in family law.