Coming in to head up the new practice is Harriet Mantell, a migration consultant and registered migration agent with more than 20 years’ experience in the migration field. Her experience includes working in policy and operational areas for the Department of Immigration, both in Australia and overseas, as well as working in-house as an immigration consultant for mid- and top-tier accounting firms.

The new practice will provide access to new and existing clients on risk strategies to ensure compliance with sponsorship obligations and assistance with formulating appropriate expatriate HR policies and employment contracts. The team will also advise and assist in a range of visa issues for individuals and business.

The head of the firm’s employment amd workplace relations team, partner Mark Dunphy, said that the addition of the new migration services practice was in response to the needs of an ever-tightening labour market, where employers are having to look overseas for skilled labour.

“Many business are importing their labour from overseas so it seemed a natural progression to build on our employment and industrial relations experience to provide clients with the service for skilled and employer-sponsored migration,” he said.