About

Alex Lee

Principal

LLB (Otago) 1982(Hons) (Auckland) 1986

LLM (Masters in Comparative & International Law) (cum laude) (Brussels) 1993

Masters in Creative & Performing Arts (Hons) (Auckland) 2004

Admitted to practise in New Zealand, Hong Kong, England, Wales and New South Wales.

He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Wales, England and New South Wales. He headed the international and Asian legal teams in various firms in Auckland prior to starting his own practice in 1998.

He has taught law in Hong Kong and Auckland and was the former Auckland Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. He holds two post graduate masters in laws specializing in public law, international law and international trade law.

Alex has also been actively involved in various business and trade organizations including The Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association (Past President), Thailand New Zealand Business Council (Past Chairman) and the NZ Association for Migration & Investment Inc. (Past Board Member).

He is also actively involved in screen and stage. Alex also previously taught film production at the University of Auckland. He is a National Executive Member of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand, Board Member of Film Auckland, Co-director and Founding Trustee of the Documentary New Zealand Trust, Chairman of the Asia New Zealand Film Foundation Trust and Founder/General Counsel of The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts.

Alex is the only practicing media and entertainment lawyer who is also a screen/stage director and producer and therefore, he brings a personal, comprehensive and practical understanding of the screen and stage industries to his legal practice.

Jimmy Lee

Head of Immigration

Jimmy Lee brings to the firm extensive knowledge of immigration practice. He has been an immigration consultant since 1985. In recent years, he was a past Board Member of the New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment Inc and made a significant contribution in advocating changes to the immigration policy as well as seeking clarity in the interpretation of immigration policy. Prior to settling in New Zealand, Jimmy headed a multinational pharmaceutical business in Malaysia/Singapore. He is actively involved in promoting TaiChi as an important rehabilitative form of exercise.

Recently, he was re-elected to the NZAMI board. He chairs the advocacy and policy committee.

In 1986, he was commended by The Hon. Mike Moore, who was then the Minister Of Overseas Trade & Marketing, for his contributions to promoting the objectives of the Business Immigration Policy.

Jimmy lee was one of the pioneers who promoted the business migration policy under the Entrepreneur Immigration Policy (EIP) followed by the Business Migration Policy (BIP) holding various immigration/ivestment seminars from 1986 onwards in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. He was accompanied by team of professionals to speak at these seminars.

They were:

• ANZ bank

• Kensington Swan – Legal

• Markhan & Partners – Accounting

• Wrightson Real Estate, also known as L.J Hooker

• Participation of the trade commissioners located at the various countries

In 1998 Jimmy and his family were featured in the Metro Magazine a leading New Zealand Magazine for his immigration work. The title was “the Asian Invasion”.

On 8th of November 1986, Section 2 of the New Zealand Herald, an article appeared in this newspaper on that day “ A home for talented capitalists” . Besides two other featured entrepreneurs, the article also mentioned the success of Jimmy and his wife Catherine’s achievements in the immigration and the cosmetic fields.

In 2006, he won a landmark decision against the Business Migration branch for their incorrect interpretation of the "interim permits" where many long term business visa holders were disadvantaged from successfully applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category.

Ben Han

Law Intern

BBIM double Major degree in Information Management and Accounting (University of Auckland) in
3 year. Ben assists Alex Lee and Jimmy Lee. He speaks fluent Mandarin as well as English and is able to provide Mandarin Speakers with on-spot translation if needed. A side from the legal studying, Ben also has a degree in a Bachelor of Business and Information Management from University of Auckland.

He has experience in tenancy tribunal cases and dispute tribunal cases. He is able to support clients with his knowledge in immigration and commercial issues.

Ben has a particular interest in assisting not for profit, community and religious organizations.

The other team members are:

Catherine Lee, Practice Manager

Kellie Chan, Legal Assistant