Robert Fisher studied at Victoria University of Wellington, Southhampton and London Universities, and the Federal Judicial Center, Washington DC. His qualifications and appointments include Doctor of Laws (1984), Yachtmaster Ocean (1985), Queens Counsel (1985) and Fulbright Scholar (1994).

He was a legal practitioner for 24 years (1965-1989) and judge of the High Court of New Zealand for 15 years (1989-2004). While a judge he held positions as Chairman of the NZ Rules Committee, Supervising Judge of the Commercial List, Executive and Senior Judge of the Auckland High Court, and divisional member of the NZ Court of Appeal. Approximately one hundred of his first instance and appellate decisions have been reported in the New Zealand Law Reports and a similar number in specialist reports.

He has presented papers, lectures, and seminar presentations, on commercial law, intellectual property, maritime law, relationship property, evidence, civil procedure, jurisprudence, litigation strategy, and advocacy. His publications include Fisher on Matrimonial and Relationship Property (LexisNexis 730 pp 3 eds); NZ Halsbury Commentary on Patents (Butterworths 1988); the "New Zealand Legal Method: Influences and Consequences" section of Legal Method in New Zealand, (Butterworths 2001) pp 25-76, and a variety of published articles. He is a consulting editor of Laws of New Zealand (LexisNexis) and editor-in-chief of Fisher on Matrimonial and Relationship Property, supra.

Since leaving the bench in March 2004 he has been in full-time practice as an arbitrator, mediator and consultant. He is also a member of the Kiribati and Cook Islands Courts of Appeal.