Troy Andres

TROY ANDRES
PARTNER

“My interest in immigration law started in high school after I received an award for a creative writing piece that I submitted to the NSW Parliament in respect to meeting labour and skill shortages of the late 1980s and early 1990s.  At the time, Australia was experiencing the recession (it had to have) and we learnt about multi-skilling and tariff removal which gave rise to globalization (another word for competitive integration).  From that point onwards, I continually wondered why we (as a nation) did not just let people in to work on various temporary visas.

Clearly this was a naive view on immigration but it did spark a curiosity that continues to burn today.  That interest has turned into determination as a I guide and inspire my team to service our clients to the standards that we apply to our own lives.  That standard is about giving, caring, intelligence and awareness. It is about pushing ourselves beyond our own idea of excellence.”

Troy has been practising corporate immigration for over 20 years and loves helping clients navigate the complexity of global mobility and shaping the future of work.

Over two decades of practice, Troy has learnt that each business, and each person, is unique and what works in one particular situation may not necessarily work in another.  He has worked with mining giants, start-ups and some of the fastest growing tech companies in the world, and has helped each grow through driving change and best practice.  Although the strategies differ, the goal is always the same – seamless and fluid systems.

Troy understands that workforce mobility is changing in real time and in a world of constant disruption, the traditional approaches to immigration will not suffice.  Recognising this, he uses his commercial acumen in guiding companies with managing their risk profile and creating systems and protocols that enlighten both the business and the employee with respect to their rights and obligations under immigration law.

Helping a client is not just about giving advice.  It is about solving deeper issues in how to manage their business commercially and legally when it comes to immigration.

Global businesses need fluidity in managing their talent to grow.  However, fluidity only arises when there is alignment in all aspects of the employment process, from recruitment, to visa processing, onboarding, and compliance.

As a partner of the firm, Troy heads a team of equally driven and dedicated immigration lawyers.

Troy’s clients have included:

  • BHP Billiton
  • Oracle
  • Salesforce.com
  • Downer EDI
  • Michael Hill
  • Brand Engineering
  • Adroll
  • Morgan Lewis & Bockius
  • Pearl Law Group
  • Meyer Law Group
  • Eco Legal
  • ARC Communications
Fiona Wong

FIONA WONG
PARTNER

“I have always been intrigued by the law and how it continues to impact our world and its ever-changing society, and vice versa.  My interest in immigration law started early in my career when I worked in the Pro Bono team at the Law Society of NSW.  I instantly knew that this was the area of law I wanted to practice in.

As I gained experience working in different global immigration law firms, I discovered that there was need to appreciate more than just immigration itself.  Focussing on businesses, I received hands-on experience dealing with the importance of compliance and commercial business decisions.  This was further refined when I became an in-house legal counsel at a Big-4 consultancy firm.  As a corporate and commercial legal counsel, I grasped the importance on how every decision, whether internal or external, affects the business.  That experience turned me into a business savvy corporate migration lawyer which has assisted my team and a number of businesses today.”

Fiona is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and a former Registered Migration Agent (1385731).  As an expert in immigration and corporate law, Fiona has been managing a number of corporate visa programs, as well as providing specialised immigration advice and assistance to clients whose application is under review by the Tribunal or the Minister of Immigration.

  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
  • A former Registered Migration Agent (1385731)
  • Juris Doctor, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
  • Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology and Physiology), University of Sydney (USYD)
  • Finalist in Executive of the Year Awards by Lawyers Weekly in 2021
  • Nominated for Partner of the Year by Lawyers Weekly in 2022

Fiona’s clients have included:

  • Oracle
  • Huawei
  • Prada
  • Joh Bailey
  • Google
  • McKinsey & Co
  • Deloitte
  • Country Garden
  • Reckitt Benckiser

Gilton Business Consultants was founded in 1982 by Mr John Milton Gillespie.  The name Gilton is a portmanteau of John’s surname Gillespie and his middle name Milton.

John was the inaugural National President of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) and was a lifetime member of the MIA and Australian Institute of Administrative Law.

Throughout John’s 30 year career in the immigration advice industry, he has held the following positions:

  • Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia
  • NSW State President of Australian Migration Consultants Association, 1989-1991
  • National President of Australian Migration Consultants Association, 1991
  • National President of Migration Institute of Australia, 1992
  • Member of Australian Institute of Administrative Law
  • Member of the Australian Institute of Management
  • John was a Justice of the Peace, Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law, the Chartered Management Institute (UK), Australian Institute of Management and St James Ethics Centre.

Sadly, John passed away on 14 November 2011.  He is fondly remembered by colleagues, family and friends.  In memory of his contributions to the industry and his friendship, we proudly continue trading under the name Gilton Valeo Lawyers.