Biography: Corporate Immigration

Robert Walsh is the managing partner for the Australian practice of Fragomen Australia Pty Ltd, part of the world's leading corporate immigration law firm, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy. Robert oversees all operations for our Australian offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. As an experienced commercial lawyer, Robert has significant experience in providing immigration and other legal advice and visa services to companies in sectors such as financial services, mining and resources (including off-shore oil and gas), information technology and telecommunications, retail, science and engineering, and health. Robert established the Canberra office of Fragomen in May 2006 and relocated to Sydney in September 2006 to take on the role as managing partner of the Australian practice. His current clients include Australian and multi-national companies in the sectors listed above and he is responsible for the firm's compliance and litigation practices.

He assisted a multinational company with its compliance with obligations for sponsored employees under the migration legislation; advised companies in the oil and gas sector on the operation of the migration zone in relation to employing foreign workers in their offshore operations in Australian waters; advised major global companies in their initial establishment in Australia through to their assignment of overseas employees to Australia and the recruitment of overseas workers for large scale projects; assisted state and federal government agencies to make use of the temporary worker and permanent resident visa categories to deal with critical skills shortages.

He is a member of New South Wales Law Society, Migration Institute of Australia, American Immigration Lawyers Association, immigration nationality committee of the IBA, international law committee of the Law Council of Australia, American Chamber of Commerce, Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His publications include contributing to AILA and IBA publications and providing updates on Australian immigration law and policy for publications of the American Bar Association and for the International Immigration and Nationality Law Service, 1997 – current. He presents at Australian and international corporate immigration conferences, and is a discussion leader on immigration and training issues and solutions at oil and gas and resources conferences, 2000 – current. He is listed in the The International Who's Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers, 2003 – 2010.

He is admitted as a barrister and solicitor, Supreme Court of Victoria, 1996; barrister and solicitor, Supreme Court of Australian Capital Territory, 1996; barrister and solicitor, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 1996; barrister and solicitor, Supreme Court of Western Australia, 2000; and a notary public, New South Wales, 2009. He is a registered migration agent in Australia, and was educated at Australian National University, LLB, 1994, (honours); Masters Degree in Public Law, 1987; BA, 1971.