Ryan Curtis-Griffiths
QUALIFICATIONS
BA/LLB/MA
Registered Migration Agent 741735
Ryan is a member of our Migration Law Practice Group.
Ryan has expertise in all areas of migration law and policy. He advises multinational and local corporations in applying for temporary and permanent employer sponsored visas.
Ryan also advises and assists individuals in successfully obtaining all types of visas including spouse/de facto visas, general skilled migration visas, business visas, family visas, visitor visas and student visas.
Prior to joining Nevett Ford, Ryan worked in a large commercial law firm where he also provided advice on all aspects of migration law. He has appeared in the Federal Courts, the Migration Review Tribunal, the Refugee Review Tribunal and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in relation to various migration law appeal matters.
In addition to his migration law experience, Ryan previously worked as commercial in-house lawyer at the Department of Defence providing commercial law advice in relation to the negotiation and acquisition of complex defence equipment and sustainment contracts. Ryan has also practiced as a criminal lawyer.
Ryan is currently completing a Masters degree (International Relations) majoring in International Law and Policy.
Areas of Expertise
Migration Law
Professional Memberships
Law Institute of Victoria
Migration Institute of Australia (MIA)
Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)
David Stratton
QUALIFICATIONS
B.Ec, LLB (Monash University)
Registered Migration Agent 9358007
David is a Director practising at our Melbourne Office. He is an accredited specialist in Migration Law and a registered Migration Agent.
David's reputation and experience has seen him rated as one of the top six immigration lawyers in Australia. Testimony to his skill and experience is his membership of various committees of the Law Institute of Victoria.
He has written extensively and frequently lectures on his area of expertise.
He and his team focus on all visa areas and in particular general skilled migration, business migration, student visas and family reunions.
He has been instrumental in preparation and presentation of submissions to the Commonwealth Government on immigration law and policy.
Area of Expertise
Migration Law
Professional Membership
Law Institute of Victoria
Helen Zheng
QUALIFICATIONS
B.Eng, M.Eng (China)
LLB (Monash University)
Registered Migration Agent 0003327
Helen is a practising lawyer at our Melbourne Office.
Helen has extensive experience in advising employers and individuals on skilled visas, family visas, sponsorship and business skills visas and in representing clients in relation to appeals.
She also has a strong interest in Commercial Law and representing small to medium enterprises in relation to property and commercial transactions.
Area of Expertise
Migration Law
Professional Memberships
Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)
Migration Institute of Australia
Law Institute of Victoria
Melissa Vincenty
QUALIFICATIONS
Juris Doctorate, William S. Richardson School of Law, Hawaii University at Manoa Pacific Asian Legal Studies Certificate, University of Hawaii at Manoa Bachelors of Arts, International Service and Development and Chinese Studies, World College West
Melissa is a senior member of the Immigration Law Practice Group and head of the U.S. Immigration Practice Group for the firm.
Melissa provides specialist US immigration advice and visa assistance to our corporate clients and individual private clients in all aspects of US Immigration Law.
In addition, Melissa has extensive experience advising entrepreneurs and start-up companies with a special focus on the IT, manufacturing, engineering and educational industries.
Prior to joining Nevett Ford, Melissa was a senior associate in a leading global immigration law firm in Sydney and prior to that was owner of a private immigration law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Area of Expertise
US Immigration Law
Professional Memberships
Australian Registered Foreign Lawyer
Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA)
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Former Secretary Hawaii Chapter
AILA Bangkok District Chapter Treasurer &,Executive Committee (Current)
Former Chair of Membership and USCIS Liaison Committees
American Chamber of Commerce
American Bar Association (ABA)
National Lawyers Guild
Heather Dzviti
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws (Honours); Bachelor of Arts (International Studies); from Deakin University Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from College of Law
Area of Expertise: LIV
Heather is a member of our Immigration Law Practice and is competent to provide immigration assistance in all immigration matters, with a focus on employer sponsored visas.
She has demonstrated legal experience and knowledge in assisting small and large corporate clients with their migration needs in the construction and infrastructure, health, information technology and education sectors. Heather has assist businesses manage their immigration law compliance and visa enquiries for over 5 years.
Heather is volunteered with various organisations including the Victoria Women Lawyer cultural and Diversity committee and the Australia Zimbabwe Business Council.
Claire Stratton
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws, Deakin University, Bachelor of Commerce (International Trade and Economic Policy), Deakin University
Area of Expertise: Litigation
Claire is a senior member of the Litigation Practice Group and provides legal advice for our corporate clients, including charities, schools, religious institutions and care organisations in responding to civil claims and inquiries. Claire provides institutional clients with expertise in drafting schemes, policy and processes in order to manage volume claims through a trauma informed lens. Claire has also gained international experience, in both London and Paris, working on cross-border mass claims and legal AI.
Claire is proficient in French.
Jacqui Azouz
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws – Deakin University Bachelor of International Studies (with Distinction) (Majoring in International Relations) – Deakin University Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice – Leo Cussen Centre for Law
Area of Expertise: Litigation
Jacqui has recently joined the Nevett Ford team, with four years of experience as a paralegal in the migration field. She has extensive experience in handling Protection Visas, as well as Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Ministerial Intervention and Partner Visa matters. She is passionate about Migration Law and enjoys working with individual clients or companies to achieve positive outcomes. Jacqui also competently speaks Arabic, extending her legal knowledge and assistance to non-English speaking clients across the Middle-East.