After being employed as a solicitor in litigation at Macrossan Byrne & Co, Robert held a position as corporate counsel at Thiess Holding Limited.  He was principally concerned with the construction and mining divisions dealing with disputes, advice and contracts.

For a few years after being called to the bar in 1978, he had a general practice in civil and criminal matters.  He was granted a Commission to Prosecute by the State of Queensland.

From about 1983, Robert developed a practice which encapsulated all areas of construction law.  He appeared as junior counsel, senior counsel and was appointed as an arbitrator or expert in large construction disputes in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.  He has also appeared in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong .

He has co-ordinated litigation teams and taken a particular interest in expert evidence.  He has conferred with expert witnesses in Australia, England, France, Denmark and the United States of America in the fields of chemistry, spectroscopy, mechanical, mining, hydraulic and civil engineering, programming, quantity surveying and architecture.

For the past few years Robert has not acted as counsel in disputed matters but rather acts as mediator, arbitrator , facilitator and expert determiner.  He has been retained in numerous matters and has written many awards in arbitrations.  These matters have included large complex disputes.  He has also focussed on acting as a mediator.  His knowledge of the law pertaining to construction disputes and matters inherent in such disputes has proved to be or assistance to the mediating parties.