Stay up to date with current legal issues in the immigration sector and join this speaking panel of immigration specialists and equip yourself with the knowledge of how different visa applications are operating. Receive a timely update on the AEWV, INZ requirements for varying visas and how to meet credibility obligations. Finish the day with an exploration of deportations in criminal matters, exclusions in the Immigration Act and the ethical framework in Immigration advocacy.

Presenters

Lauren Qiu, Principal, Stay Legal
Lauren is the Principal at Stay Legal. She has presented at national seminars and conferences on immigration law. She is a guest lecturer, teaching aspiring immigration advisers at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. Lauren is also an immigration law commentary Author for Thomson Reuters. Lauren is currently a Committee Member of The Law Association’s (formerly Auckland District Law Society) Immigration & Refugee Law Committee, a Member of the Tauranga Migrant Settlement Network (an Immigration New Zealand led Welcoming Communities initiative), and a Volunteer Immigration Solicitor at the Citizens Advice Bureau (Tauranga).


Harris Gu, Solicitor, Queen City Law
Prior to joining Queen City Law, Harris used to work for a former Minister of Immigration as a licensed immigration adviser for 7 years. Harris has extensive experience in dealing with all types of visa applications, as well as appeals to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal (IPT), Section 61 requests, Ministerial special directions & Ombudsman complaints. Harris obtained his LLB and BCom degrees from the University of Auckland and was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand in October 2021. Harris is pleased to have joined Queen City Law’s large award winning Immigration Law team. Harris speaks fluent Mandarin. Harris currently serves on the Auckland District Law Society (“ADLS”) Immigration & Refugee Law Committee.


Pooja Sundar, Partner, D&S Law
Pooja is an enthusiastic and friendly lawyer who enjoys getting to know her clients and advocating them. Pooja holds a Master of Law (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland. She is a legal aid registered lawyer, with experience in advising in all aspects of immigration law, including visas, residence appeals, and refugee and protection claims. Pooja has significant experience in the Family Court. Pooja’s passion for legal representation is coupled with a deep interest in human rights legislature, international criminal law, and refugee case law. She has successfully been involved in many cases involving complex issues across domestic and international spheres. Pooja also advocates for victims of domestic violence in the immigration and family law fields.


Carol Nan Ma, Director, NZ Visa Wiz Ltd
Carol Ma migrated to NZ as an international student in 2003. She developed a keen interest in immigration matters in the spirit of helping others of similar background and began practising as a licensed immigration adviser since 2014. She focuses her practice areas on temporary and resident visas for skilled migrants. Carol also holds Master of Civil Engineering from the University of Auckland and Bachelor of Civil Engineering with honours from Canterbury University. She works in both transport engineering and immigration industries. Carol finds there are interesting similarities between the two professions, working with codes and standards, flexible and agile problem solving, and standing up to challenges with good communication skills.


Simon Graham, Partner, Young Hunter Lawyers
Simon is a litigation partner at Young Hunter Lawyers. He is responsible for leading the firm’s immigration and human rights team. As part of his role, he regularly appears before specialist Tribunals, and the Courts. Simon specialises in providing advice and representation with respect to all aspects of immigration litigation. This includes deportation appeals, refugee and protected status appeals, residence appeals, judicial reviews and High Court appeals, and criminal matters (including immigration fraud) which have the potential to affect a person’s immigration status. He is a member of the New Zealand Immigration and Refugee Law Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.


Michael Kim, Principal, MK Law Barristers & Solicitors
Michael Kim is the Principal of MK Law Barristers and Solicitors. He is a specialist immigration lawyer who comes from a unique background as a former immigration officer at Immigration New Zealand (INZ). He worked as an immigration officer over five years in various roles including assessing various types of Resident Visa applications and conducting verification/site visits to workplaces. As an immigration officer, he had to deal with many migrants, who were desperate to become New Zealand residents but failed to do so, not because they were unworthy but simply because they weren't professionally prepared. They didn't understand the daunting nature of the immigration policies/ instructions against which their cases were to be assessed. Common stumbling blocks were featured in those failed applications that he had to deal with. Just as his immigration expertise ripened, Michael undertook a legal study at the University of Auckland with a sole aim of becoming an immigration lawyer, graduating in 2011. Since admitted to the bar shortly afterwards, he has helped many migrants achieve their immigration goals, be that Resident Visas, appeals or defending deportation. He is also experienced in conducting judicial proceedings in High Court. Michael originally comes from South Korea, married with three children. In his leisure, he enjoys reading bible and watching movies. He is 2 Dan black belt Taekwondo practitioner as well., Michael is a current member of the Immigration and Refugee Committee at the Auckland District Law Society Inc. Apart from the immigration matters, he also helped many clients in settling employment issues at the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court. As a counsel in the criminal matters, Michael has successfully represented many criminal clients, including a repeat domestic violence offender, discharged without conviction. Michael is a proud member of the New Zealand Law Society, ADLSI, NZAMI and Auckland Chamber of Commerce.


Marcus Beveridge, Managing Director, Queen City Law NZ Limited
Marcus Beveridge is the Managing Director of Queen City Law NZ Limited. His main areas of practice are construction and property law, commercial law, foreign investment, real estate services and immigration. Marcus has developed expertise in business-based immigration and has acted on literally 100's of successful business-based immigration applications over the best part of 3 decades. Many of these clients have subsequently become major clients of his firm. The total amount of business immigration funds invested in NZ in the last decade is close to NZ$10 Billion. Marcus is a regular commentator on immigration based issues on national Radio & TV and has presented and chaired many NZ Immigration Law conferences over the years. Marcus has also recently been on several Working Groups and Immigration Reference Groups liaising with senior INZ management about assorted immigration issues. His firm comprises one of NZ’s largest immigration law teams. Marcus was formerly Chairman of NZAMI and Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society Immigration Committee.


Sonny Lam, Consultant, Queen City Law
Sonny is a former Immigration New Zealand Officer. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2007, practicing in the area of employment and family law for around 7 years before joining Immigration New Zealand. He has a balanced understanding of the New Zealand Immigration system having served with INZ in multiple officer roles before being called back to private practice as a lawyer in 2015. Sonny’s focus is on helping families. He has personally taken part in assisting thousands of people obtain residency, whether as an Immigration officer or as an Immigration lawyer. He has particular expertise in the SMC Skilled Migrant Category Residence applications, particularly in Immigration Appeals to the IPT on residency decline decisions. His family law background and his former experience as an Immigration Officer in the partnership assessment teams will give you the edge in preparing for a partnership application. Due to the unique mixture of his background, Sonny is also highly in demand in providing Employment and Immigration business advisory advice for companies hiring migrant workers, including applying for the legalisation of overstayer workers which is known as a s61 application. He has acted on Immigration/ Employment matters for various international companies for their New Zealand business interests, including collective bargaining with migrant workers.


Jack Cheng, Senior Associate, Meredith Connell
Jack is a Senior Associate at Meredith Connell (MC). He practised as a barrister from 2000 to 2014, representing mainly international clients in criminal and immigration matters. During his tenure as a barrister he regularly appeared in the District Courts and the High Court. He has also appeared as second counsel in several high profile trials involving serious crimes, including organised crime, importation and supply of drugs, money laundering, and murder. In 2014 Jack joined Queen City Law as a consultant and began to specialise in immigration law. In the past 8 years he has built up a formidable immigration practice, having successfully assisted hundreds of clients from across the globe. Jack is well versed in a wide spectrum of immigration work, from visa applications to appeals to the IPT and Ministerials. He frequently advises on complicated immigration matters involving significant financial, character, health, or humanitarian issues. In 2022 he decided to join MC, Office of the Crown Solicitor in Auckland to further broaden his legal landscape. Jack is a current member of the ADLS Immigration & Refugee Law Committee and NZAMI.


Christine Le Beau, Senior Associate, Young Hunter Lawyers
Christine is a senior associate in the litigation and dispute resolution team at Young Hunter Lawyers. She specialises in immigration and employment matters. Christine graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Canterbury in 1993. After working for approximately 5 years in the civil litigation area in New Zealand she travelled overseas and gained further legal experience in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. She was admitted as a solicitor in Ireland in 2003. In 2004 Christine returned to New Zealand and began working in the immigration area, going on to become a New Zealand licensed immigration adviser in 2009 when the industry became regulated.