Professionally Certified

Our Specialty

Why Riverwood?

Migration Lawyers

All cases are handled by Australian lawyers registered with the Law Society of New South Wales

Strategic & Transparent Approach

We design clear, achievable pathways tailored to your goals.

Proven Success Across All Visa Streams

Skilled, partner, employer, and innovation visas with high success rates.

Meet our lawyers

Johnny Kong

Principal Lawyer

Founder and Principal Lawyer of Riverwood Migration. Specialises in skilled migration, employer-sponsored visas, family migration, and innovation visa strategy.

Eileen Yang

Client Service Consultant

Supports clients throughout education and migration-related processes, ensuring clear communication and smooth case progression.

Hally Li

Senior Manager

Oversees education program recommendations and school applications. Ensures smooth coordination between students, institutions, and legal teams.

Sebastian Leong

Principal Lawyer

Specialises in medical industry migration, global talent pathways, skilled migration, and visa litigation, including appeals before Courts and Tribunals.

Principal Lawyer

Johnny is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Riverwood Migration.

Johnny has many years of legal experience gained in various high profile national and international law firms in Sydney. He brings his solid legal experience when he co-founded Riverwood Migration with Sebastian. He focuses on Skilled Migration through education (especially high risk student visas), corporate migration and employer sponsored visas.

Johnny is the 'go to' person for many listed companies, high profile private companies and high net worth individuals when it comes to legal issues in migration law.

Johnny speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide
  • Bachelor of Finance, University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Australian National University
  • Charter Financial Analyst Level 1
  • CPA Associate Membership
Memberships and Associations:
  • Law Society of New South Wales
  • Law Society of New Zealand

Jurisdictions:

  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
  • Admitted to the High Court of Australia
  • Admitted to the High Court of New Zealand

Principal Lawyer

Sebastian is the Principal Lawyer of Riverwood Migration.

Sebastian specialises in Medical Industry global migration, General Skilled Migration, Global Talent Independent Program and visa appeals in Courts and Tribunals. He has extensive experience in acting for corporate employers and skilled individuals in professional sectors, especially in medical space.

Sebastian speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Laws, the University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, the University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice, University of Technology Sydney
Memberships and Associations:
  • Law Society of New South Wales
  • Law Society of New Zealand
Jurisdictions:
  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia
  • Admitted to the High Court of Australia
  • Admitted to the High Court of New Zealand

Senior Lawyer

Shirley is a Senior Migration Lawyer of Riverwood Migration.

Shirley has many years of experience in migration law, with extensive expertise in partner visas, temporary visas, Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Circuit and Family Court review cases. Shirley also has extensive experience handling complex visa issues, including visa cancellation, character issues, health waivers, PIC4020 false information and unlawful stay.

Shirley is a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards 2025 in Migration Law category.

Shirley speaks English and Mandarin.

Qualifications:
  • Juris Doctor, University of New South Wales
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law
Memberships and Associations:
  • Law Society of New South Wales
Jurisdictions:
  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
  • Admitted to the High Court of Australia

Senior Lawyer

Scott is the Senior Lawyer of Riverwood Migration.

Having worked with and for organisations in the tertiary education, public health, government, research, and commercial sectors, Scott brings a wealth of experience when understanding the needs of professional individuals and corporate employers. He specialises in General Skilled Migration and extends that expertise to employer sponsorship pathways.

Scott speaks English.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Monash University (double degree completed on full leadership scholarship)
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Monash University (double degree completed on full leadership scholarship)
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Leo Cussen Centre for Law
  • Graduate Certificate in Public Health, University of Wollongong
Jurisdictions:
  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria
  • Admitted to the High Court of Australia

Meet our consultants

Eileen Yang

Client Service Consultant

Supports clients throughout education and migration-related processes, ensuring clear communication and smooth case progression.

Hally Li

Senior Manager

Oversees education program recommendations and school applications. Ensures smooth coordination between students, institutions, and legal teams.

Whey Morales

Client Service Consultant

Assists clients with course selection, admissions processes, and initial pathway planning, ensuring recommendations align with long-term objectives.

Floyd Fang

Legal Assistant

Provides legal and administrative support across casework, documentation, and client communication under lawyer supervision.

Meet our support team

Sherry Zhao

Administrative Executive

Manages documentation, scheduling, and internal workflows to support daily operations, with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and compliance across all service stages.

Eve He

Marketing Executive

Responsible for digital marketing execution, campaign coordination, and brand communication across Riverwood’s platforms.

Book a
consultation

Meet with one of our  migration lawyers to discuss your background, goals, and eligibility for Australian visas or PR pathways.

Strategic Planning

We design a clear, tailored migration strategy that aligns with your timeline, qualifications, and long-term objectives.

Application Preparation & Lodgement

Our legal team manages all documentation, submissions, and communication with the Australian Department of Home Affairs to ensure full compliance and accuracy.

Visa Granted & Ongoing Support

Once approved, we continue to guide you through post-visa planning, including PR upgrades, extensions, or family sponsorships.

Policy Updates

How I Stayed in Australia After My WHV

Many Working Holiday Makers only start seriously looking into long‑term visas and migration options when their visa is close to expiring. Because of information gaps and poor planning, quite a few end up leaving Australia with regret instead of a new chapter.

Policy Updates

Three Months Left on My Visa: How I Found a Way to Stay

Three Different Roads, Three Different Ways to ‘Hustle’

Knowledge & Tips

Want to Work in Australia After Graduation? Navigate These 5 485 Visa Hurdles

485 is not a “congratulations, here’s your visa” gift that arrives automatically once you finish your course. It’s a ticket you have to proactively qualify for, with strict criteria that need planning before your final semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use a migration lawyer instead of a migration agent?

A migration lawyer can provide legal advice, represent you in appeals, and ensure your case complies with current legislation.

Can you help if my visa was refused?

Yes. We specialise in visa refusals and ART reviews, handling legal submissions and appeals.

How can I get started?

Simply book a consultation with one of our lawyers to assess your eligibility and design your migration strategy.

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