Kristopher Kunasingam

Partner & Head of Migration

Qualifications: LLB, GDip BA

Industries

Practices

Kristopher leads the migration practice at Hall & Wilcox.

He advises on all aspects of migration to Australia, with particular emphasis on employment-related migration. He has advised a wide range of clients, including large public and international companies, as well as small-to-medium enterprises.

Kristopher also has experience in assisting individuals with their migration matters, including skilled, business, investor, high net worth individuals and family visa applicants.

He is also involved in tribunal and court matters appealing visa and citizenship refusals.

Businesses have engaged Kristopher to perform and prepare audit reports on their visa workforce, develop strategies to meet migration regulatory requirements and provide ad-hoc advice on all visa matters.

Experience

  • Acting on behalf of clients that are approved to sponsor overseas workers in respect of monitoring audits, including preparation of submissions and legal arguments setting out the clients’ compliance with their sponsorship obligations.
  • Working on strategies and marketing consideration for overseas businesses looking to set up their operations in Australia.
  • Negotiating labour agreements on behalf of businesses.
  • Advising on labour template matters to be utilised by industry associations.
  • Drafting employment and commercial contracts to satisfy provisions of the Migration Regulations 1994.
  • Representing businesses and individuals who wish to appeal a visa refusal or cancellation at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or Court.
  • Managing self-reporting incidents involving breaches of the Migration Act 1958.
  • Advising businesses on strategies to manage their relocation program.
  • Advising individuals on ways to retain their Australian residency status.
  • Providing strategic advice in relation to dismissal and performance of employees on visas.
  • Advising business owners, high net worth individuals and investors on regulatory requirements for the Business Innovation and Investment visa, including the Significant Investor stream (Subclass 188).
  • Advising and assisting individuals in relation to their eligibility for Australian temporary or permanent residence through the employer sponsored migration program.
  • Advising individuals with health conditions on how they can maintain and satisfy visa requirements in accordance with the Migration Regulations 1994.
  • Advising individuals who have ceased to hold an Australian visa on satisfying the requirements of the Migration Regulations 1994 and on their eligibility to apply for alternative visas, on- and off-shore.

Awards and recognition

Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession 2021-2024
Leading Immigration Lawyers – Victoria

Professional Membership

  • Migration Institute of Australia

Latest thinking

Employment & Workplace Relations | 13 Mar 2024

The aftermath of COVID-19 – Can I ask my employees to come back to the office now?

The law is recognising that societal views and attitudes are changing with regards to the way people perform work.