Ismail Rasheed

Ismail Rasheed is an experienced lawyer practising across Australia and New Zealand with over 25 years in the legal profession. He is the Chief Executive Officer, Founder, and Legal Practice Director of IR Legal Australia & New Zealand. Ismail began his career after graduating from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, initially working as a tax lawyer. Over time, he expanded his expertise to include immigration consultancy and subsequently practiced independently in immigration and tax law. His current practice encompasses immigration, commercial, and tax law, with additional advisory services in employment law as it relates to immigration matters. He also provides legal support tailored to the needs of in-house legal teams and businesses. He holds admissions in multiple jurisdictions: the High Court of New Zealand, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Supreme Court of Queensland, and the High Court of Australia. This allows him to practise as a solicitor before any Federal Court in Australia and in all courts throughout New Zealand. He frequently appears before the Administrative Review Tribunal. Ismail's professional recognition includes being a finalist for the Sole Practitioner of the Year Award at the Australian Law Awards 2025 and the Queensland Solicitor of the Year (Sole Practitioner) Award at the Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards 2025. His memberships include the New Zealand Law Society, New Zealand Law Association, Wellington District Law Society, Queensland Law Society, and the Migration Institute of Australia. He has secured successful appeals in key immigration cases, both in Australia and New Zealand, demonstrating a strong track record in navigating complex legal challenges in skilled migrant and immigration-related matters. Notable cases include Pasili v MIMA, YFNF v MIC, and LQXN v MIC in Australia, as well as multiple decisions before the New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal involving skilled migrant categories and domestic violence considerations. Ismail Rasheed’s legal expertise and cross-jurisdictional experience provide clients with comprehensive support in immigration, tax, commercial, and employment law within Australia and New Zealand.