Michael McCrudden

Senior Immigration Lawyer

Michael is our senior migration lawyer. Michael has worked with a national law firm advising the Department of Immigration on complex migration matters, and has assisted private and corporate clients with a range of visa applications. Michael now manages one of Australia’s largest migration practices.

Michael is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law – one of only 35 lawyers with this qualification conferred by the Law Society of NSW.  He holds a Masters degree in law specialising in Administrative and Immigration Law.

Michael has also worked in a number of prominent Sydney CBD firms, gaining experience in contract law and commercial litigation.

The combination of commercial and migration law experience is invaluable when advising businesses and individuals about corporate and business migration strategies.

Michael supports both small and large businesses across a range of industries, managing the migration of their staff into Australia. He assists with the visa application process and developing polices to ensure his clients comply with Australia’s immigration laws.

As the senior migration lawyer, Michael also acts for successful business people and “high-worth” clients who want to migrate to establish a business, to work or to retire in Australia. Michael assists with the transition from temporary to permanent residence by providing comprehensive and clear advice before the initial visa application, and effective representation throughout the visa application process.

Craddock Murray Neumann also provides a wide range of related services to our corporate and business migration clients - including in commercial law, property law, business structuring and litigation.

Qualifications

• Accredited Specialist, Immigration Law
• LLB (Masters)

MARN 0429447

Steven Sue

Senior Immigration Lawyer

Steven is a lawyer and a migration agent. In addition to his Bachelor of Laws, Steven holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing management. After practising as a solicitor in New Zealand and Hong Kong in intellectual property law, Steven settled in Sydney in 2004 and now practices immigration law.

Before joining us, Steven worked in a specialist immigration law firm in Sydney which handled many difficult cases. Steven has assisted numerous people to successfully remain in or migrate to Australia based on their skills or ties to an Australian permanent resident or citizen.

Steven has an excellent track record in assisting those applying for:

• family stream visas, such as a partner visa, (including de facto and same-sex couples);
• skills-based visas;
• visas where the applicant has been living in Australia with no visa for several years but is now in a relationship with an Australian;
• Ministerial intervention, or waiver of the health criteria for issue of a permanent visa;
• a visa for a carer to look after a family member living in Australia; and
• visas based on humanitarian (refugee) grounds.

Steven has appeared before the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal and also attended hearings as part of the Refugee Status Assessment process.

Steven enjoys the challenge of immigration law. He is very approachable and likes meeting and assisting people from diverse backgrounds.

Qualifications:

• B.A. (University of Otago)
• B.Com. (University of Otago)
• LL.B. (University of Auckland)
• MARN 0601750

Rebecca Mikhail

Senior Immigration Lawyer

With extensive experience with the Department of Immigration, most recently as an Assistant Director at the Independent Protection Assessment Office, Rebecca brings unique skills to the firm. Rebecca has also held positions with the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Federal Attorney-General’s Office. She has provided legal services to many refugee clients as a manager in an overseas non-government organisation in Cairo, Egypt where she lived for several years.

Rebecca recently completed a Master of Law degree from the University of London.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)(Macquarie University)
• The College of Law, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Master of Law (University of London)
• OMARA Registration Number 1279094

Suzi Diab

Senior Immigration Lawyer

There are a few skills which make for a good lawyer. These include the ability to analyse facts, and the ability to identify a suitable legal process to achieve the desired result. Another is the ability to communicate - to persuade others - and also to keep clients informed of progress in their matters. Experience is also necessary. Finally, a good lawyer needs good administrative support and good colleagues to work with.

Suzi Diab has all these qualities and resources.  Her experience in migration law includes providing representation in a wide variety of visa applications, including onshore and offshore skilled migration, employer sponsored, business, family, student, visitor and refugee/humanitarian classes.

Suzi has also represented clients at the Migration Review Tribunal, Refugee Review Tribunal and Federal Court, and with Ministerial Intervention requests, giving her invaluable experience as an advocate for her clients.

Further, Suzi has also acted as a Team Leader for Taskforces undertaken by this firm as a provider of visa application services to refugees. These services are sponsored by the Department of Immigration under the Immigration Application Advice and Assistance Scheme.  In this role Suzi has been very effective in communicating her clients’ claims to be Department of Immigration decision-makers. 

Qualifications

Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) / Bachelor of Laws (Macquarie University)

The College of Law, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Training Course in Australian Immigration Law and Practice, The University of New South Wales,

OMARA Registration Number 0701671

Gabriel MacKenzie

Senior Immigration Lawyer

Gabriel is a senior lawyer with over 16 years experience across a range of areas including civil, criminal and migration law. Gabriel has worked for the New South Wales Crown Solicitor’s Office where she regularly provided advice to the State Government of New South Wales on contentious legal problems.

Gabriel has also been a solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission providing Criminal Law services, and also with the Prisoners Legal Service, the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Western Aboriginal Legal Service.

We are proud to work with a lawyer of such experience and dedication to assisting those with difficulty in accessing legal representation.

Gabriel knows how Government departments operate. Her experience in Government legal practice and as a migration lawyer gives her an understanding of what the Department of Immigration is looking for, and the ability to present arguments that will give you the best chance of success with your visa application.

A large part of her practice is devoted to assisting clients who have received negative decisions from the Department of Immigration and she regularly appears before the review Tribunals set up under the Migration Act

Qualifications:

• BALLB
• Registered Migration Agent Number 9801127

Vanessa Downing

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Vanessa Downing was admitted as a solicitor in 2006 and has worked with Craddock Murray Neumann ever since.

Vanessa has acted in many of the firm’s matters that fall under the Immigration Application Advice Assistance Scheme (IAAAS), a Federal Government scheme that involves assisting international refugees with their applications for visas to stay in Australia.

Vanessa is dedicated to assisting clients wherever possible, and to understanding their individual situation, circumstances and cultural background. Working extensively in refugee and general immigration law, Vanessa has established a sound knowledge of the political situations in our clients’ countries of origin. Vanessa uses her details understanding of our clients’ cases to present thorough and persuasive applications to the Department of Immigration, the Immigration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal.

In addition to her role with Craddock Murray Neumann, Vanessa is continuing with a successful acting career that involves both theatre and television work.

Qualifications

• BA/LLB
• MARN 0640768

Robert Cooke

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

We welcome lawyers with broad experience. Robert began his career in IT and has run his own business. Whilst studying law he worked with our Debt Recovery and Insolvency Law Team, gaining invaluable experience in litigation  and developing an eye for detail.

After admission as a solicitor, Robert joined our Immigration Law Team and now specialises in complex appeal matters, particularly in the Refugee Review Tribunal.

Robert has also acted as a Team Leader for some of the largest Taskforces undertaken by this firm as a provider of visa application services to refugees. These services are sponsored by the Department of Immigration under the Immigration Application Advice and Assistance Scheme. Robert was appointed Team Leader because of his knowledge of immigration law and his ability to engage effectively with officers from the Department of Immigration.

Qualifications

• LLB
• MARN 1068246

Joshua Scotland

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Josh obtained academic success in his law degree at the University of Technology Sydney and received distinctions in Administrative Law, Advocacy, Legal Skills and Equity and Trusts. Josh was also the winner of the 2010 UTS Law Client Interview Competition.

Josh’s understanding of immigration law and the law relating to administrative decision making makes him an effective advocate for his migration clients.

• Having lived in Mexico, Chile and Spain Josh speaks Spanish, and is able to assist  Spanish speaking clients with:
• family stream visas, such as a partner visa, (including de facto and same-sex couples);
• skills-based visas;
• visas where the applicant has been living in Australia with no visa for several years but is now in a relationship with an Australian;
• Ministerial intervention, or waiver of the health criteria for issue of a permanent visa;
• a visa for a carer to look after a family member living in Australia; and
• visas based on humanitarian (refugee) grounds.

Josh is dedicated to developing an understanding of his client’s individual circumstances and cultural background so as to provide the best possible service.

Qualifications

• B.A. (Macquarie University)
• J.D. (University of Technology Sydney)
• MARN: 1279316

Danielle Cooper

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Danielle graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with First Class Honours and was admitted as a solicitor (lawyer) and migration agent in 2012. Danielle has outstanding research skills. One of her papers was presented at a conference of the United Nations Environment Program (PCFV) in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2011.

Danielle has experience assisting vulnerable and marginalised clients, working with the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT and Redfern Legal Centre while completing her studies.

Danielle joined Craddock Murray Neumann in 2010 and has experience with:

• preparing primary applications to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship;
• assisting clients with appeal proceedings before the Refugee review Tribunal;
• preparing submissions for review; and
• preparing submissions for Ministerial intervention in immigration matters, including “character” submissions.
• Danielle’s work is outstanding. We welcome her to the practice.

Qualifications

• LLB (Hons)/BA in Comms (Social Inquiry)
• Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice
• Admitted to practice in the NSW Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia
• Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1277049)

Elizabeth Heaney

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Elizabeth graduated with first class honours from Auckland University in 2006, and was awarded the Senior Prize in Law.

After graduation Elizabeth worked as a paralegal in the Intellectual Property sections of Gilbert + Tobin and Allens Arthur Robinson, as a Specialist Tutor for My Law Tutor and as a lawyer with Heaney and Co, New Zealand, a boutique firm specialising in insurance and local government liability litigation.

Whilst pursuing her legal career, Elizabeth co-produced and acted in “Brontë”, the first play selected for the “Under the Wharf” independent theatre season in Sydney in 2010, and also appeared as an actor in “The Laramie Project”.

Since joining our firm, Elizabeth has persistent immigration Law matters and has also acted in a variety of litigation matters for private clients. Elizabeth is a good lawyer and able to represent clients effectively.

Qualifications

• BA/LLB – First Class Honours in Law and an Arts Major in English from the University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Senior Prize in Law
• LEADR Prize in Negotiation, Mediation and Dispute Resolution
• Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts from the Actors Centre, Sydney
• MARN 1174990

Anna Hutchinson

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Anna works as a solicitor as part of our Immigration Law Team and also has experience in Family Law.

Anna is well qualified to assist clients with complex family migration cases, including cases involving disputes over custody of children. She is also experienced in assisting vulnerable clients and those who are at risk of family violence.

Anna also has written many submissions to the Department of Immigration and to the Refugee Review Tribunal.

Anna has a commitment to social justice and to assisting those with limited access to the legal system. Before joining our firm she worked at the Edmund Rice Centre and Redfern Legal Centre.

Qualifications

• LLB/BA Comms (Social Inquiry)

Glen Falkenstein

Immigration Lawyer / Migration Agent

Glen graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelors of Communications and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Glen joined our team as an immigration lawyer.  Glen has also worked in criminal law and has a wide range of experience across different matters and jurisdictions, including daily court appearances, client contact and research duties.

Glen has a strong background in international law. He was part of the 2011 Tulane University International Law Program based in the Hague, Netherlands where he gained first hand experience and knowledge of immigration practices and the movement of refugees and stateless persons. Glen was placed first in his class, and was the first Australian to take part in the elite program.

Glen has also collaborated previously with Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and the NSW Community Relations Commission.

Glen enjoys the practice of Immigration Law and is dedicated to providing thoughtful, compassionate and valuable support to clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Communications (Social Inquiry) – University of Technology Sydney
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – University of Technology Sydney