Meet the Team
Meet Our Team of Lawyers
Anthony Perich
Director, Principal Lawyer
Notary Public NSW/QLD
Anthony Perich is the director and principal lawyer for TIA Lawyers.
Prior to starting his own practice, he was employed for many years with two highly regarded law firms – a multinational top-tier law firm where he was appointed an Associate and, earlier in his career, a lawyer for a highly regarded banking and finance law firm in Sydney.
Having years of experience in the banking and finance industry, he has acted for all the major Australian banks (including the big four) and has hands-on experience and knowledge in structuring and documenting complex commercial, corporate and project finance facilities. He has ample experience in mortgagee and debt recovery matters, including advising lenders in relation to their enforcement options and strategic plans for debt recovery.
As team leader for the leasing team, he has a solid leasing practice that provides leasing advice and transactional document preparation for both landlord and tenant. This includes legal advice to prospective tenants, disclosure requirements under the Retail Shop Leases Act, rights of termination, re-entry, make good, negotiation and mediation, dispute resolution etc.
As the team leader for the migration law, corporate and employer sponsorship section, he handles complex migration applications for a vast range of visa subclasses and heads a team of several members for this section. He is also a Registered Migration Advisor for New Zealand (No. 201200560) and has ample knowledge of most New Zealand visas. His predominant focus is on Skilled Migrant Category Visas (points test based); Essential Skills – Work Visas; Talent (Accredited Employer) Visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas and family related visas, including Partner, Retirement and Parent Visas.
Anthony also undertakes the duties of a Notary Public. He is admitted to practice as a Notary Public in New South Wales and Queensland. He was appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 18 November 2011 to practice in New South Wales and then appointed to practice in Queensland by the Archbishop of Canterbury acting through the Master of the Faculties in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2019. His commission in Queensland does not expire. Very few Notary Publics have been appointed in more than one State or Territory. He is therefore one of the very few Notary Publics who is admitted to practice in two jurisdictions/States (New South Wales and Queensland).
Anthony has advised companies such as ANZ, NAB, St George, Bankwest, Carla Zampatti, Team Penske (V8 Racing), Gold Coast Suns FC, Swisse Australia, Jiffy Group and several other national and international corporations.
He regularly writes news updates and legal briefs and delivers internal seminars on a broad range of topics associated with the legal industry. He has guest lectured Immigration Law to law students for over 10 years at Bond University, Faculty of Law.
Qualifications:
- Master of Laws
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Bachelor of Business
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
Admitted:
- Supreme Court of New South Wales
- High Court of Australia
Memberships:
- Queensland Law Society
- Migration Alliance
- New South Wales Society of Notaries
- Queensland Society of Notaries Inc
- Committee Member of the Queensland Society of Notaries Inc
Mathew Perich
Founding Lawyer
Mathew Perich is the founder of TIA Lawyers and the founder, and Director of This Is Australia (www.thisisaustralia.com) (established in 2001). Mathew has been assisting clients with all aspects of migration law and policy since 2002 and is well renowned among migration colleagues and the Department of Home Affairs.
He has managed thousands of migration applications, which has resulted in thousands of satisfied clients. His ample knowledge has added tremendous value to the firm’s success and development. For these reasons, This Is Australia now acts for and is on the panel for many national and multi-national corporate enterprises.
Along with providing Migration assistance and advice since 2002, Mathew holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honors and is a Migration Lawyer. He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia. Mathew also regularly writes news updates and legal briefs and delivers internal seminars on a broad range of topics associated with the migration industry. Mathew also lectures Immigration Law Policy at Bond University, Faculty of Law every year since 2014.
Areas of Practice:
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Admitted:
- Supreme Court of Queensland
Memberships:
- Queensland Law Society
- Migration Institute of Australia
- Migration Alliance
Ernie Hu holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Bond University where he was also awarded with the First in Class achievement for Immigration Law. Despite experience with property, leasing and commercial law early in his legal career, his keen interest in helping migrants like he once was in 1995 has led him to practice exclusively in migration law.
Having joined TIA Lawyers in 2011, Ernie primarily focuses on complex migration matters such as character/integrity waivers, family violence provisions, health waivers, sponsorship monitoring, Administrative Appeals Tribunal applications and Ministerial Intervention requests across all visa subclasses.
As each complex matter is unique, Ernie utilises a personal approach by taking the time to really know his clients’ history and circumstances and using this information to structure concise but detailed legal arguments and submissions. It is with this approach that Ernie has achieved a comparatively high success rate across his matters, including earning commendations from Tribunal Members during hearings for his diligent representation of his clients.
Ernie is also experienced in handling business and investor visas which, along with his fluency in Mandarin, has assisted high net-worth individuals make multi-million dollar investments into Australia.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (Bond University)
Admitted:
- Supreme Court of Queensland
Memberships:
- Queensland Law Society
Other Languages:
- Mandarin
Sookyi Leong holds a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce from Griffith University.
Sookyi’s interest in migration law stemmed from her personal experience having emigrated to Australia over 14 years ago. Being new to the country at the time, she found the process to be a complex and challenging one but was fortunate to have the support of professionals in the field.
Sookyi has been with TIA Lawyers since 2012 and her personal journey has inspired her to practice exclusively in migration law. Sookyi has vast experience across a wide range of visa subclasses which enables her to develop practical strategies for clients with complex visa histories without compromising their long term goals. She also prides herself on being able to achieve successful results for clients who have experienced adverse visa outcomes prior to appointing our services.
She has a great understanding of the international education sector which has enabled her to advise on complex student visa matters dealing with compliance/ integrity as well as Administrative Appeals Tribunal applications. Sookyi primarily focuses on Family visas which include partner, parent, child as well as NZ Family Relationship visas.
Sookyi has also undertaken pro-bono work for the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland since 2012 and is a valued, long term volunteer with the organisation.
Areas of Practice:
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (College of Law)
Admitted:
- Supreme Court of Queensland
Memberships:
- Queensland Law Society
Other Languages:
- Malaysian
Mike Beckett’s background is in Property having been a Commercial Property Manager before moving into education. He has over 20 years business experience, ensuring the firm's corporate clients are well served.
Mike graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Business before embarking on an M.B.A., followed by his Bachelor of Laws. Wishing to add expertise, Mike studied various Graduate Diplomas including Education, Migration Law and Real Estate. He was subsequently admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.
Mike's experience in leasing, negotiation and client management coupled with his knowledge of commercial legislation and regulations, allows him to serve a wider range of clients.
Mike is a fierce client advocate who is passionate about migration law, property law, commercial law, and dispute resolution.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Business
- Master of Business Administration
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (College of Law)
- Graduate Diploma in Migration Law and Practice
Admitted:
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
Memberships:
- Queensland Law Society
Edward Wall
Graduate of Law
Edward holds a Bachelor of Laws specialising in International Law from Coventry University, England, and a Master of International Law from Griffith University. Ed has a profound passion for migration law and a deep commitment to assisting people in their journey to Australia.
Having personally navigated the complexities of the Australian visa system - from a working holiday visa to student to graduate visa - Edward understands the challenges migrants face. This personal experience fuels his dedication to providing empathetic and effective legal support to his clients.
Outside of his professional life, Edward is an avid football enthusiast, both playing and watching the sport. Edward loves to travel and explore new cultures, which fuels his passion for helping others navigate their own journeys to new beginnings in Australia.
Areas of Practice:
Qualifications:
- Master of International Law
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in International Law
The Rest of our Loyal Team
Joaquin Bascunan – Paralegal, Migration (English, Spanish) – service since 2024
Maria Arreza – Contract Administrator (Cebuano, Tagalog, English) – service since 2021
Charlie Quinn – Office Manager (English) – service since 2017
Steve Rungassamy – Case Manager, Migration (English, French, Mauritian Creole) – service since 2008
Audrey Leong – Case Manager, Migration (English, Malaysian) – service since 2014
Joy Bolastig – Administration Assistant and Case Manager, Migration (English, Talalog, Cebuano) – service since 2013
Mary Grace Escarpe – Reception (English, Tagalog, Cebuano) – service since 2023