Each year, various QCL lawyers present at New Zealand national law conferences, typically on topics such as business immigration, construction, property law, and other associated topics. Recently, QCL MD Marcus Beveridge presented on the results of AIP/Golden Visa 16 months down the track at the annual CCH Immigration Law Conference. Last week, Marcus also chaired the annual Legalwise Immigration Law Symposium 2026 (this time online attendance only). As you can see from the attached backstage photos, this was done from home.

For most people attending a national legal conference, the scene is fairly predictable: a conference room, a lectern, a coffee station somewhere nearby and a room full of lawyers and licensed immigration advisers ready to absorb as much professional development as possible in one day.

The conference room was home.

The lectern was an Ipad balanced on a chilli bin.

Labradoodle Matisse is visible playing a leading role in this process as co-chair but the show must go on, rain or shine.

This Immigration Law Symposium included 8 speakers. Sonny Lam, a consultant at Queen City Law, spoke on the new pathways opening in the Skilled Migrant Category this month and 3 former QCL lawyers addressed the attendees on topics including employment compliance, practical issues and trends in AIP, and INZ policy changes. It was a nice reminder that the knowledge and experience developed within the firm continues to make its way into the wider profession.

Marcus was particularly impressed by the standard of presentation this year and by just how much practical knowledge was packed into a single day and this has been acknowledged by the attendees feedback confirming an excellent seminar.

One of the online attendees commented :

“Hey Team. Today was the best panel of speakers I ever encountered in an immigration law symposium. Congratulations! Whatever those speakers present in the future, I'll be interested."

For the lawyers and licensed immigration advisers attending, conferences like this are about more than ticking off CPD hours. They provide an opportunity to share practical experience, discuss emerging issues, challenge established thinking and keep pace with a constantly changing immigration landscape.

And with the symposium offering one CPD unit per hour of eligible attendance, there was certainly no shortage of professional development on offer.

As for the backstage operation? Rain or shine, conference room or home office, the show must go on.

And if the photographs are anything to go by, Matisse was an essential part of the chairing team.

We’re not saying she earned CPD points, but she certainly earned another bone to munch on and a nap.

Cheers from the Chair :-)