David Smith
Managing Partner
Family Law, Bankruptcy Law, Asset Protection Law, Collaborative Law
David was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1991. David has been a partner of the firm since 1996 and is the Managing Partner.
David practices predominately in Family Law, and also in Bankruptcy Law and Asset Protection Law. His areas of speciality include all aspects of family law including Family Law Act property and children’s matters, de facto relationship disputes and same sex property issues pursuant to the Relationship Act 2003, child support, child protection, child welfare matters, running bankruptcy proceedings out of the Family Court and advising on effective asset protection strategies to protect family wealth.
Work in these fields involves assisting parties to resolve disputes by way of conciliation and mediation and assisting further with respect to the drafting of appropriate agreements and Court orders in order to give effect to parties agreements.
David also appears as Counsel in the Family Court, Magistrates Court and the Supreme Court of Tasmania. He appears as Counsel on interim proceedings, trials at first instance and has appeared as Counsel on many Appeals to the Full Court of the Family Court.
Over the years David has served on various Law Society Committees. He is presently the Honorary Solicitor for the Tasmanian Police & Citizens Youth Club and is board member of CAST (Contemporary Art Services Tasmania).
David is a member of various professional bodies including the Tasmanian Bar Association, Tasmanian Medico-Legal Society, Federal Law and Family Law Sections of the Law Council of Australia and the Law Office Managers Association.
David is also one of only two Tasmanian Practitioners that has undertaken training as a Collaborative Lawyer. Further details regarding this exciting development in the resolution of family disputes can be found on this website.
David is married to Jenny and has three children - Zoe, Olivia and Sam. He maintains a keen interest and continues to support the University Old Scholars Football team and is an avid supporter of the mighty Carlton Football Club. When the opportunity arrives David also enjoys sailing, gardening, reading and politics.