Our Riccarton premises are closed. Our Immigration services will be run from our main office, Linwood Law, located at 15 Buckleys Road, Linwood. Visit Linwood Law Limited.

Our Founder

The Immigration Law Firm was founded by Paulo Kündig in 1998 and was initially known as Kündig Associates until it was rebranded in January 2012. Before 1998, Paulo practised immigration law with a large Christchurch-based law firm.

As well as being a Notary Public since 1998, Paulo is a fluent speaker of the Portuguese language and has a Bachelor of English Literature degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Juris Doctor Law degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles, California.

During his career, Paulo specialised exclusively in New Zealand immigration law and policy until his retirement in 2024. By then, he had merged with Linwood Law in July 2022 through his connection and long-standing friendship with Jerome Williamson, a director of Linwood Law.

Paulo is now enjoying retirement but is still actively providing notary public services.

Paulo Kündig

Founder of The Immigration Law Firm

To get started, book a consultation

Book a personalised consultation with our specialist team.
We will give you a clear and honest assessment of your next steps.

Rochelle Gorman

Rochelle Gorman

Senior Immigration Law Specialist and Team Leader

Rochelle is our Senior Immigration Law Specialist and Team Leader. She has worked in the immigration industry since 1998 and has a wide variety of experience in all types of immigration applications.

Rochelle’s primary areas of specialisation are employer accreditation, job check and accredited employer work visa applications, Skilled Residence applications and appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

Jerome Williamson

Specialist Immigration Lawyer (Director)

Jerome Williamson has been a lawyer in Christchurch since February 1987. He has extensive experience in property and commercial law, civil litigation, employment, and education law.

From 2000 to 2006, Jerome was a partner in a specialist immigration law firm. In late 2006, he left to return to more general law practice and is an immigration law specialist.

He is a member of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment and was for three years a director of that organisation.

Danielle Hayes, Administrator

Danielle Hayes

Administrator

Danielle is the Operations Manager and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer at Linwood Law and The Immigration Law Firm, a branch of Linwood Law. 

Danielle joined Linwood Law in March 2016 after completing her Certificate 5 in Business Management and handles the general operations between the two branches working alongside the Directors. 

In her spare time she enjoys cooking for her family, baking with her children and lots of camping holidays.

Belinda Donaldson, Senior Immigration Law Specialist

Belinda Donaldson

Senior Immigration Law Specialist And Team Leader

Belinda is a new Immigration Law Advocate to our firm in 2023, coming from a similar position with another Barrister in Christchurch.  Belinda enjoys working in the immigration field and assisting clients to achieve their immigration goals.

She has experience in relationship-based visas, requests for Section 61 visas, applications for character waivers and is now extending her knowledge to work visa applications. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in History, from the University of Canterbury.

Maree Heron Immigration Law Advocate

Maree Heron

Immigration Law Advocate

Maree is one of our Immigration Law Advocates. She holds a Diploma in Business Studies from the Waikato Polytechnic in Hamilton. 

Maree joined The Immigration Law Firm in April of 2005. She has a wide variety of experience in many types of immigration applications but specialises in partnership-based, citizenship and permanent resident visa applications.