Clothier Anderson & Associates
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Michael Clothier

Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer and Migration Agents Registration Number 74433

Michael Clothier

Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist

Michael Clothier has more than 30 years experience as an immigration law specialist and is regarded as one of Australia’s top immigration lawyers. He served for five years as the Senior Member of the Australian Government’s Immigration Review Tribunal (1989 to 1994) and has been involved in numerous landmark litigation cases, including the High Court immigration case of Kioa v West in 1985. Michael is the past Chairman of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Immigration Law Committee and has served for 17 years on the Law Institute’s Immigration Law Specialisation Committee, which sets the examinations for lawyers wanting to be accredited as specialists.

He is the author of numerous articles on immigration law and is also a regular presenter at seminars and conferences. Michael receives most of his referrals from other lawyers who hold his skills in high regard. In fact, Michael has been selected by his peers as one of Australia’s Best lawyers in the field of Immigration Law for the inaugural Best Lawyers List. His inclusion in the List, over four consecutive years was published in the Australian Financial Review in March 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, followed a rigorous peer review survey comprising more than 80,000 confidential evaluations by lawyers in Australia.  Most recently, Michael has been named by Best Lawyers as their 2011 "Immigration lawyer of the Year" (Melbourne area).

 

Karyn Anderson

Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer and Migration Agents Registration Number 9685990

Karyn Anderson

Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist

Karyn graduated from the University of Melbourne in Arts and Law and holds a Master of Laws (cum laude) in Public International Law from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands. She was admitted to legal practise in 1993 and has practised solely in the areas of immigration and refugee law for over ten years. She has extensive experience in all areas of migration law including merits review in the MRT, RRT and AAT as well as judicial review in the Federal Magistrates’ Court, Federal Court and High Court.

Karyn became an accredited immigration law specialist in 2000 and has served on the Law Institute’s Immigration Law Specialisation Committee, which sets the examinations for lawyers wanting to be accredited as specialists, for a number of years. She is a regular presenter of seminars to fellow lawyers and migration agents. She has written numerous articles in the areas of immigration and refugee law and recently co-authored the Refugee Law Chapter for the Lawyers Practice Manual of Victoria, a practical guide for other lawyers on this important and ever changing area of the law.

Karyn has been selected by her peers as one of Australia’s “Best Lawyers” in the field of Immigration Law published in the Australian Financial Review in March 2009, 2010 and again in 2011, following a rigorous peer review survey comprising more than 80,000 confidential evaluations by lawyers in Australia.

 

Lauri Stewart

Lawyer and Migration Agents Registration Number 0850542

Lauri Stewart

Lauri received her Bachelor degrees in Arts (Honours) and Law from Monash University in 2006. Her Honours thesis was in the field of international politics focusing on international humanitarian intervention and, in particular, the United Nations intervention into East Timor in 1999. During her time at university, Lauri spent a year living in the United States, studying political science at Texas Christian University. Please note Lauri is currently on maternity leave.

Rosemary Field

Receptionist

Rosemary Field

Rosemary Field is our receptionist and she has had administrative experience in a wide variety of areas, including working at the National Australia Bank. She was lucky enough to travel around Australia, New Zealand and to Hong Kong with the Seekers as Judith Durham’s personal assistant. Prior to her employment with Ms Durham, she worked for Melbourne’s community television station, Channel 31, and is a past President of that organization. She is also a former Vice-President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and chaired the National Community Television Standing Committee. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws part-time at Deakin University. Rosemary can provide you with further information in respect of our preliminary appointments, availability of our solicitors for appointments and booking interpreters.

Lynda Nelson

Legal Secretary

Lynda Nelson

Lynda has approximately 20 years experience in the legal profession as a legal secretary. She initially worked in a general practice for approximately 5 years and then moved into the banking and finance area where for the next 10 years she became familiar with all aspects of civil litigation from the Credit Tribunal to Supreme Court appeals. The next 5 years were spent raising her children before returning to the workforce as a legal secretary in the immigration area in which she has worked for the past 5 years. She joined the firm of Clothier and Anderson and Associates in September 2004 and is a vital member of the firm’s team.

Sara Di Battista

Administrative Assistant

Sara Di Battista

Sara is our Administrative Assistant. She has completed an Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice) and Bachelor of Social Science (Legal and Dispute Studies) at RMIT University. She has approximately 2 years administrative experience working as a Production Co-ordinator in a marketing and advertising firm. Sara is responsible for lodging your applications and documents with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. She can assist you with making appointments, booking interpreters and other administrative matters.

Samantha Fitzsimons

Lawyer and Migration Agents Registration Number 0801554

Samantha Fitzsimons

 

 

 

Samantha completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992, majoring in politics.  She then undertook a Graduate Diploma of Development Studies, whilst working at World Vision.  In 1996 she took 12 months leave and volunteered at an orphanage in Harare, Zimbabwe, helping children orphaned and affected by AIDS. In 1998 Samantha moved to Ireland where she lived for three years, working as the Marketing Manager at World Vision’s Dublin office.  It was whilst in Ireland that she decided to further her interest in human rights through the law so she began a law degree through University College, London. In 2001 Samantha moved to Melbourne and worked part time at the Energy and Water Ombudsman whilst continuing her law degree.  In April 2006 she graduated from Victoria University with Honours in Law.  She undertook her Articles of Clerkship working with a sole practitioner specialising in aviation law and was admitted to practice in 2007. It was Samantha’s background working in third world development that inspired her to move into immigration law and led her to join Clothier Anderson in January 2010.