Crispian Carlowe

About Crispian Carlowe

Crispian Carlowe has practiced exclusively in all aspects of family law and related law since 2008.

Crispian’s client base ranges from high net wealth cases to individuals in financial distress. Each matter, regardless of financial status, is important because it involves people and families in crisis. It is the greatest privilege of his career to assist people through turmoil to emerge in a position where they can re-establish themselves successfully.

Legal Career and Education

Crispian has built his expertise through deliberate career choices and ongoing professional development. He has:

Worked within respected family law practices under the mentorship of leading Queensland practitioners
Volunteered for years with the LGBTI Legal Service and the Caxton Legal Service to support both the LGBTQI+ community and financially disadvantaged individuals
Completed two Master of Laws degrees in Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution
Achieved Specialist Accreditation in Family Law through the Queensland Law Society

Academic and Teaching Contributions

Since 2020, Crispian has played a key role in shaping the next generation of family law professionals through his work with the College of Law. His contributions include:

Serving as an Adjunct Lecturer in the postgraduate Master of Applied Law (Family Law) program
Acting as an Oral Assessor for the Ethics and Family Law PLT program
Authoring the College of Law’s Family Law Practice Papers (for all States except WA) covering Parenting Applications, Property Applications, and Maintenance and Child Support
Revising the Divorce and Urgent and Interim Applications papers used by Masters and PLT students nationwide
Acting as the National Subject Matter Expert for the College of Law Family Law faculty since 2021
Reviewing and updating national practice materials in response to major legislative changes, including the 2024 Family Law Act amendments
Holding academic roles across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia through the College of Law’s Family Law Masters program

Crispian’s Areas of Practice

Crispian’s experience covers all aspects of family law, including:

Divorce and separation
Children’s issues
Relocation and recovery of children
Paternity
Applications to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Property settlements and Binding Financial Agreements
Inter-jurisdictional issues and international cases
De facto property settlement
Child Support
Spouse maintenance
Domestic Violence
Child Protection
Alternate Dispute Resolution – mediation, collaborative law and arbitration
Enforcement of orders

Awards and Professional Recognition

Crispian’s contribution to the legal profession has been acknowledged through numerous awards and nominations:

Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards (2023): Finalist, Queensland Solicitor of the Year (Large Firm) – only family lawyer in Queensland shortlisted
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards (2023): Finalist, Special Counsel of the Year – only family lawyer in Australia among ten finalists
Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards (2022 & 2023): Nominated, Outstanding Accredited Specialist of the Year
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards (2024): Nominated, Australian Law Award
Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards (2024): Nominated, Queensland Solicitor of the Year (Large Firm)
Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards (2025): Nominated, Outstanding Accredited Specialist of the Year
Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards (2025): Finalist, Queensland Solicitor of the Year (2025) – Large Firm
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards (2025): Nominated, Partner of the Year

Other Areas of Expertise

Crispian Carlowe has conducted matters across a wide range of legal fields including administrative, commercial, contract, criminal, traffic, personal injury, employment, local government, planning and environment, real and intellectual property, and wills and estates.

He has extensive experience in litigation and has appeared before multiple State and Federal Courts, including the Magistrates, District, and Supreme Courts, as well as the Family Law Courts and the Full Court of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Crispian also has significant expertise in legal education. He mentors lawyers at all stages of their careers, from newly admitted solicitors to senior practitioners, and has organised and chaired numerous Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events in areas such as family law, ethics, mental health, mediation, dealing with difficult clients and lawyers, accounting, and work–life balance.

CPD and Academic Involvement

April 2023: Panellist at the College of Law’s Postgraduate Specialisation Webinar (Australia-wide)
October 2023: Delegate of the College of Law at the Queensland Law Society Family Law Conference (Hilton Brisbane)
Previous Presentations: Delivered presentations for the Queensland Law Society

Due to his specialist accreditation and academic work, Crispian received major commissions from the College of Law:

December 2023: Authored the Assessment Pilot for a Masters of Law (Family Law) subject, trialled in February 2024 and May 2024, and now planned for national rollout
March 2024: Wrote and reviewed the Family Law Practice Papers in response to the amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) effective from 6 May 2024. These papers are a cornerstone of the College of Law’s Masters and PLT programs and are used nationally
September 2025: Authored the College of Law’s Family Law National Practice Paper on Urgent and Interim Applications
September 2025: Authored the College of Law’s Family Law National Practice Paper on Parenting Applications for all States and co-author regarding Western Australia
September 2025: Authored the College of Law’s Family Law National Practice Paper on Maintenance and Child Support for all States and co-author regarding Western Australia
September 2025: Authored the College of Law’s Family Law National Practice Paper on Divorce

Passion and Care for Clients

Crispian Carlowe is deeply committed to helping families navigate separation and conflict with empathy and clarity. He represents clients from all backgrounds in property, parenting, and domestic violence matters, offering practical, common-sense advice. Known for his calm approach and accessibility, Crispian combines legal expertise with negotiation and mediation skills to achieve fair, lasting outcomes for his clients.

Approach to Dispute Resolution

His approach promotes resolution of disputes without the need for litigation. Where litigation is unavoidable, I have extensive experience of the litigation process. Crispian appear as solicitor advocate and/or as instructing solicitor with Counsel. He also act as advocate for my clients in conferences and mediations.

Crispian is committed to providing high quality legal services to his family law clients with a view to achieving speedy resolution of disputes wherever possible. Family law disputes almost always involve high levels of emotion and conflict he focus on assisting his client navigate divorce, parenting matters, property settlement matters and family violence matters so as to minimise trauma and preserve assets.

Crispian deals with matters involving complex parental disputes, international issues, complex asset structures, family violence, mental health issues and substances abuse issues.

He achieve early resolution of property settlements, future parenting arrangements and domestic violence matters thus limiting exposure of parties and their families to financial and emotional distress.

Crispian has managed multi-disciplinary teams and he engages and liaise with appropriate expert witnesses and Counsel to achieve the best possible outcome for clients.

Crispian takes a great deal of pride in my work, his highly motivated with a strong work ethic and he strive to achieve the best possible result for clients.

Why Unified?

Crispian joined the Unified family for a number of reasons. Unified Lawyers has a stellar reputation in the Australian legal community. They are known for the impeccable quality of their legal services and professional and collaborative approach. This is reflected in the hundreds of positive client testimonials received. Crispian impressed with the focus on learning and development and the supportive environment at Unified.

Unified’s priorities closely reflect my own and I’m delighted to now be part of the Unified family. Crispian’s nationwide academic and practical expertise ensures that Unified Lawyers stands out among best family lawyers Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast for delivering exceptional client outcomes.

Passion outside of the law

Sports, movies, theatre, food, cultures, reading, art, gardening, architecture, travelling, writing, teaching, my own education and socialising with family and friends.