Admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1991, Kent's practice has included company law, insurance, medical negligence, common law and a substantial component of family law.

Appointed as senior counsel in 2007, Kent is also the chair of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators and a member of the executive of the family law section of the Law Council of Australia.

"Mr Kent has experience as a mediator in a wide variety of disputes including commercial/corporate , partnerships, wills and estates, insurance and personal injuries, as well as family law and de facto property disputes," said Attorney-General Robert McClelland.

Kent will take up his new position in July in the Family Court's Brisbane registry.