Shamili Kugathas

Shamili Kugathas is a seasoned Senior Associate at Australian Presence Legal, a distinguished full-service law firm based in the Greater Sydney Area. Since joining in January 2022, she has played a pivotal role in delivering independent and trusted legal advice across various domains. With over eight years of experience as a Solicitor and Registered Migration Agent, Shamili brings extensive knowledge and insight to her practice areas, particularly in immigration law. Her expertise encompasses advising on protection visas, skilled worker and employer-nominated migration streams, and complex citizenship and visa issues, including cases involving overstays and deportation threats. In addition to her immigration work, Shamili is well-versed in corporate and commercial law, handling mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and joint ventures with precision. She is adept at negotiating commercial contracts and structuring company and shareholder agreements. Her property law acumen includes managing the conveyancing process for both residential and commercial properties, ensuring compliance with the Foreign Investment Review Board requirements, and drafting comprehensive option agreements and commercial leases. Shamili's portfolio also includes significant work in employment law, where she advises on employment agreements, unfair dismissals, and relevant jurisdictional issues. In the realm of wills and estates, she offers guidance on drafting wills, estate planning, probate applications, and contested estates. Her legal career commenced with PLAYFAIR Visa and Migration Services, followed by various roles including Fast Track Coordinator and Paralegal, which honed her skills in case coordination and client service. Prior to her legal career, Shamili engaged in community-focused roles, exemplified by her tenure as a Tamil Project Officer with Auburn Diversity Services. Shamili holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Technology Sydney and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Sydney, forging a strong academic background underpinning her legal proficiency and client-focused approach.