Which pathway is the best choice? With constant changes in immigration law, from the Skills in Demand visa to student visas, employer-sponsored pathways and refugee protection,  keeping up has been a challenge. How have these updates affected your practice? How are you managing client expectations amid delays and evolving requirements? Join leading experts as they unpack key reforms, from compliance risks and self-incrimination concerns for migrant workers to shifts in skilled migration policies. Gain practical insights on judicial reviews, ART appeals, visa cancellations, and handling documentation challenges, including domestic violence claims in visa applications.

Presenters

Marial Lewis, Principal Solicitor and Founder, Crossover Law Group
Marial Lewis is one of Australia's top immigration lawyers. She is an accredited specialist in Immigration Law by the Law Society of NSW as well as the winner of the prestigious 2021 and 2022 Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 and the 2020 John Gibson Award - Young Migration Lawyer of the year by the Law Council of Australia. In 2023 she was recognised as one of the Most Influential Leading Lawyers in Australia and listed as the only woman in the Oceania region in the Women of the Future- 50 rising stars in ESG. In 2022, Marial was listed in the Forbes list under 30 for social impact. Since 2022, she was recognized yearly by her international peers in the Who’s who Legal- Corporate Immigration Future Leaders and in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2023 and 2024- Immigration Law. Marial has also been a finalist in various national awards including, innovative of the year (individual), rising star of the year for the Australasian Law Awards and Women in Law, regional/suburban lawyer of the year and 30 under 30 since 2019. Marial is also a lecturer and unit coordinator in the Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and a Teaching Fellow at UNSW for subjects such Administrative law. Marial is an international and national speaker on various matters from migration law to innovation to entrepreneurship. Marial is also a mother of two little ones whom she adores dearly, keeping her always on the go. After many years in private practice including being a partner in a specialist migration law firm, Marial founded Crossover Law Group, a Newlaw migration law firm focusing on servicing private and corporate clients migration law needs by delivering a fast, efficient and transparent excellent service whilst using innovation, technology and new ideas for better delivery. Crossover Law Group has been recognised as innovative law firm of the year finalist as well as Newlaw firm of the year finalist in various awards since its inception. Marial is a passionate lawyer who works with a wide range of clients assisting them with their immigration legal goals. She is also very experienced with complicated migration law matters such as refusals, cancellations, detention, character cases, review matters at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal as well as being a litigator in migration court cases.


Wajiha Ahmed, Partner and Mediator, Buttar, Caldwell & Co
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Wajiha came to Australia with her family at age five. As a third generation lawyer, Wajiha is committed to the plight of social justice and rights of women in Australia and ensuring access to justice. She joined Buttar, Caldwell & Co. Solicitors in March 2001. She is a NMAS mediator and sits on a number of panels. Her main practice areas are civil litigation, family law, employment and immigration. In 2006, Wajiha was appointed as a part time Commissioner with the Community Relations Commission of NSW for six years. She served on the NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council for a number of years. Since 2012 she has been a member of the Human Rights committee of the Law Society of NSW. She has served as an Officer for the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association since 2018. Wajiha has taught “Business, Law and Ethics” and “Contemporary Business Law” at University of Technology, Sydney from 2005 until 2019 and other private Colleges in Sydney. Wajiha has written opinion pieces in the Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald and the Guardian with respect to her views on various human rights issues over the years.


Professor Mary Crock, Immigration Lawyer, Professor, The University of Sydney
Professor Mary Crock is Professor of Public Law and former co-Director of the Sydney Centre for International at the University of Sydney Law School. She has worked in the area of immigration and refugee law since 1985. An Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, she maintains a pro bono practice alongside her academic role. She has been recognised in the peer publication Best Lawyers in Australia in immigration law since 2008. In a career spanning over 30 years she has authored 15 books and over 90 articles and book chapters. Her work spans every aspect of migration law from citizenship, labour migration, family and asylum law as well as merits and judicial review. Mary has worked over many years to advocate for respect of international law and human rights. She has worked as consultant to the Australian Human Rights Committee and for various senators. Earlier in her career she took leadership roles with Law Societies in Victoria and New South Wales as well as with the Law Council of Australia. Her academic research has a strong focus on vulnerable migrants and comparative law and policy.


Simon Jeans, Principal, Jeans Lawyers
Simon Jeans has been practising law since 1989. He is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and listed by Best Lawyers for Australia in Immigration Law. He has worked as an advocate for refugees and migrants with the Jesuit Refugee Service, RACS, Legal Aid (NSW), UNHCR and in his law firm. He was appointed as a member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal from 2010-2015. He was engaged by the College of Law in 2019-2020 as an assessor and external moderator for the Capstone Migration Agents Assessment.


Chris Honnery, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall Chambers
Chris Honnery is a barrister who is experienced representing applicants in administrative law and judicial review proceedings. He passed the England and Wales Bar Transfer Test prior to being called to the NSW Bar, and has worked in a number of jurisdictions. Before becoming a barrister, Chris was a solicitor for almost a decade, working at Victoria Legal Aid, the Federal Court of Australia, and representing asylum seekers detained on Nauru. Based in Sydney, Chris also appears interstate, and has particular expertise in migration matters and challenging visa-related decisions. Website https://www.chrishonnery.com.au/


Alex Kaufman, Senior Solicitor – General Counsel, Playfair Legal
Alex Kaufman is a qualified Solicitor (formerly also a Registered Migration Agent with the registration number #0601370 under the previous regulatory scheme). With over two decades of experience, he specialises in business, investment, and employment-related migration, along with providing associated legal services. Alex's extensive migration experience encompasses: - Advising and representing clients from the public sector, corporations, and individuals to achieve the best employment-related outcomes through Australia's Temporary Business Entry program. - Assisting corporate clients and entrepreneurs in facilitating trade and investment activities through Australia's Business Skills program. - Advising and representing individuals in obtaining Permanent Residence and Australian Citizenship. - Representing private clients before Tribunals and Courts in visa decision review proceedings. - Advising and acting for employers of overseas workers in relation to employment law and Departmental monitoring and auditing processes. - Assisting clients with ancillary and post-settlement legal services, including Customs and Australian Quarantine Inspection Service requirements, Foreign Investment Review Board applications, business or real property purchases, commercial premises leasing, and referrals to integrated taxation and accounting services. Alex's client base includes mining interests, health and aged care service providers, financial institutions, recruitment businesses, education providers, and high net worth individuals. Qualifications / Certifications and experience: - Barrister and solicitor in NSW since 2006 - Accredited Educator – Migration Institute of Australia - Former VP of the Migration Institute of Australia NSW/ ACT Branch – 2 years, and Committee Member for over 10 years - Doyles Guide – Leading Immigration Lawyers in NSW (2021/2022/2023) - Contributor to senate committee and departmental immigration enquiries since 2013 - Immigration legal commentator in numerous free to air, subscription, and online resources over the preceding decade - Conversational in Mandarin Chinese.


Ndi Ruppert, Principal & Founder, Ruppert Legal
Ndi Ruppert obtained her Bachelor of Business and Law with a Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Newcastle in 2010 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a solicitor in 2011. In 2017, Ndi obtained her Master of Laws from the University of Newcastle, majoring in Human Rights and International Business; her master thesis was published in the African Journal of International and Comparative Law. Ndi is the Principal Solicitor & Founder of the law practice, Ruppert Legal and was formerly a solicitor with Hicksons Lawyers. She also currently uses her immigration expertise to assist refugee clients one day a week through Mosaic Multicultural Connections. Ndi has significant experience with the Australian Migration system, both personally and professionally and was honoured by being listed on the 202, 2022 and 2023 Doyles list of leading New South Wales Immigration Lawyers. She is also the Vice Chair on the Board of the Hunter Community Legal Centre and is part of the executive leadership team of the Centre for African Research, Engagement & Partnerships at the University of Newcastle.


Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers
Ms Kim Hunter is a criminal defence and immigration lawyer as well as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law from Hunter Flood Lawyers in Sydney. Kim has a law degree, 3 first places in law exams (Criminal law, evidence & succession), second place in Constitutional Law and 2 Butterworths Law prizes. Kim Has always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and complex immigration matters. Kim has formerly lectured in post graduate law at Australian National University and regularly lectures for the Law Society of NSW, Legal Aid and various other professional bodies and organisations including the MIA and Law Council of Australia. Kim is on an expert panel for a research project led by Prof Alison Gerard and funded by the Australian Research Council, being undertaken by leading Professors from Charles Sturt, Flinders and Monash universities in Australia and Oxford University in the UK on the topic of ‘Crimmigration’ – the intersection of criminal and immigration laws in Australia.


Sean Kikkert, Barrister, Jessie Street Chambers
Sean Kikkert has more than 18 years of experience in immigration law and administrative law. He was admitted in 2007 and worked for the Department of Immigration for eleven years before opening his own law practice. He has appeared in many Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court and Tribunal matters, and provides complex legal advice based on his 16 years of experience in government law. Sean also has considerable experience in dispute resolution and conducted family and personal violence conferences as a Deputy Registrar with the ACT Magistrates Court between 2019-2022. Sean was born in Adelaide, South Australia and spent the early part of his childhood in the Netherlands before his family returned to Australia. He earnt a BA (Hons.) in Psychology in 2002 and an LLB (with Hons.) in 2005 from the University of Adelaide. He married his wife Jaquilyn in Hong Kong, and he is the father of five children. He is also an author and has had eight books published.


Ms. Elena Su, Senior Associate,
Experienced immigration lawyer with a passion for Humanitarian law and practice focus on global mobility and corporate advisory/sponsorship compliance.


Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister and Migration Law Lecturer
Sergio practises in Migration and Citizenship Law. Before becoming a barrister, Sergio worked as an immigration solicitor for a number of years and was an RMA prior to this. This past experience places him well to appreciate all facets of migration and citizenship law matters. As an advocate, Sergio has appeared and represented clients on matters before the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia (including Full Court), Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Migration Review Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Immigration Assessment Authority and the Administrative Review Tribunal. Also, Sergio: - has authored over 1,300 court decision summaries on migration and citizenship law, most of which for his newsletter (https://migrationlawupdates.com.au), and some for LexisNexis (Administrative Law Decisions). - has authored over 1,000 articles and updates on migration and citizenship law, some of which for LexisNexis - is a former assessor at UTS (Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice - GDAMLP) - is a former unit coordinator and lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP) - has been a migration law CPD lecturer since 2019 - is often consulted by barristers, solicitors and RMAs on complex matters - holds a bachelor's degree in engineering

Ethics for Immigration Lawyers and Agents

Examine the ethical challenges immigration lawyers face when handling sensitive documentation for refugees and asylum seekers. This session covers the impact of documentation inconsistencies, the ethical considerations of family reunion applications, and the responsibility to address misleading or false information.