- Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales (2000)
- Bachelor of Laws, University of New South Wales (2003)
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Technology Sydney (2005)
High Court of New Zealand – 2016
- Member of The Law Association (formerly Auckland District Law Society)
- Member of The Law Association Immigration & Refugee Law Committee
Elly is a specialist immigration lawyer with over 18 years of experience across Australia and New Zealand. As the head of Pitt & Moore’s immigration team, she guides clients through the complexities of Australian and New Zealand immigration law with clear and practical solutions. She is responsive, approachable, and passionate about helping clients achieve successful outcomes.
Known for her dedication and results driven approach, Elly has successfully assisted clients from all over the world to secure different types of visas.
Elly is a trusted adviser to a wide range of employers and corporate clients, known for her ability to simplify challenging issues and support informed decision-making.
She believes that listening to – and understanding – clients is the most important foundation upon which good immigration advice is built and is the key to helping clients to make either Australia or New Zealand their home.
Elly regularly presents continuing professional development seminars and webinars on current immigration topics for Legalwise, CCH Learning, and the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment. She is a long-standing member of The Law Association’s Immigration & Refugee Law Committee, where she advocates for fair immigration policies and processes, as well as improved access to justice.
Elly's articles have been published in the following media:
- The Law Association (formally Auckland District Law Society) LawNews Magazine titled “The uneasy Interplay between Employment Law and Immigration Law” on the topic of the conflicting employment and immigration obligations for employers (March 2024)
- Stuff "Revamped visa scheme spells trouble for employers hiring migrant workers" (July 2024)
- Stuff "Are employers ready for changes to offences and penalties?" (Dec 2023)
- RNZ "The lottery keeping families apart and holding New Zealand back" (May 2023)
Elly has extensive experience in providing full, end-to-end assistance with residence applications under the Skilled Migrant, Residence from Work and Family categories. She is highly experienced in dealing with the often complex immigration policy requirements for these visa categories and passionate about untangling the immigration rules for her clients while strategically guiding them to achieve their goals.
She also specialises in Employer Accreditation applications, Ministerial Intervention requests, preparation of responses to Potentially Prejudicial Letters, character and medical waivers, as well as deportation liability proceedings for residents and non-residents.
Another core area of practice for Elly is representing clients in their appeals to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal. Elly’s in depth knowledge of the Tribunal’s processes and procedures means that she can give her clients timely, practical and direct advice, particularly on their prospects of success.
She has been involved in a number of significant appeals against deportation liability in respect of clients who were unlawfully in New Zealand as well as concerning residence class visa holders.
Further Elly advises licensed immigration advisers facing disciplinary action or those in need of reviews of their written service agreements, procedures or processes to ensure compliance with the LIA Code of Conduct.
Elly has extensive experience in preparing immigration opinions as an expert witness in criminal proceedings addressing potential consequences of convictions on defendants’ abilities to remain or obtain visas in New Zealand and/or Australia in support of submissions for a discharge without conviction. She has also acted as an expert witness in employment related proceedings concerning migrant workers before the Employment Relations Authority.
Elly has assisted individuals in relation to the full range of Australian visas, including skilled migration, employer sponsored migration, family migration, distinguished talent, resident return, visitor and business skills visas as well as Australian citizenship matters.
She has advised corporations and individuals on complex technical issues regarding immigration visa eligibility as well as compliance obligations.
Elly has a particular interest and background in administrative law and merits review, allowing her to give pragmatic advice on matters such as challenging visa refusal decisions before the Administrative Review Tribunal.
Elly advises licensed immigration advisers facing disciplinary action or those in need of reviews of their written service agreements, procedures or processes to ensure compliance with the LIA Code of Conduct.
She also assists licensed immigration advisers with complex visa application and Immigration & Protection Tribunal appeals, including where there is a potential or actual conflict of interest relating to their clients.
Elly has extensive experience in preparing immigration opinions as an expert witness in criminal proceedings addressing potential consequences of convictions on defendants’ abilities to remain or obtain visas in New Zealand and/or Australia in support of submissions for a discharge without conviction.
Elly has also acted as an expert witness in employment related proceedings concerning migrant workers before the Employment Relations Authority.