Who makes up the TranQuill Legal team?
The TranQuill Legal team is comprised of fully qualified Australian solicitors, Registered Migration Agents and a dedicated administration contingent. Our staff members are dedicated to the highest order of professional ethics and quality service, with a proven success rate, and rigorous ethical standards.
Owen Harris
Director, Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
Notary Public
former MARN 0851294
former Adjunct Professor
[email protected]
Owen wants to live in a world where his trusty side-kick Bronwyn does not nag him and he always has a hot cup of tea, a Diet Coke and a packet of snakes (he was banned from the jellybeans) within arms reach.
He’s the Principal Solicitor and owner of the firm.
He is the first and only Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law in the ACT, and in 2021 was appointed to the Migration Advice Industry Advisory Group providing expert advice to the Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP.
At the moment he is busy being the convenor for the Capstone program, which is an examination based system for budding migration agents.
As of March 22, 2021 lawyers are not allowed to be RMAs. They can just give the same advice. Don’t ask why. So he can’t say he has a MARN anymore.
Owen is keen to get his PhD as he heard that ‘Doctors’ always get upgraded on flights. Just kidding – He’s not keen – he just wants the upgrade on the non-existent COVID19 ridden, over-priced flights.
In a previous life he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Canberra, lecturing for the Juris Doctor program. He taught budding lawyers how to be ethical (some might say an impossible task), sue people and understand Admin Law.
Owen has represented clients in a range of jurisdictions including the Full Federal Court and Full Magistrates Courts, Federal Circuit Court, Family Court, ACT Magistrates Courts, Administrative Appeals Tribunal (formerly Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Tribunal) and ACAT. He has lodged several HCA special leave applications but his cases haven’t quite made it yet – maybe one day he can join Dennis Denuto and Darryl Kerrigan!
Owen is definitely the lawyer you want on your side. He is a quiet achiever – tenacious, pragmatic and results-driven. He works hard for his clients and never gives up. If you read some of our testimonials you’ll get a true sense of the dedication he has towards his work and clients, but don’t expect him to dress up. He is a blue-collar guy from a small dairy-farming town (which is why he can smell b-sh** a mile away). He only dresses in a suit when he has to go across the road to a court. Jeans is more his style.
When he is not in the office, or studying or teaching, you’ll find him spending time with a very, very patient and understanding wife Karen (who now that all the children have left home has taken a sudden interest in her iPad and her growing collection of high-performance motorbikes). On the rare occasions he spends time with his 5 adult children and 8 grandchildren (most of whom have sensibly moved to Melbourne to live), he’ll probably be telling them ‘Dad jokes’.
In his spare time, Owen has no spare time…
Prior to becoming a lawyer Owen had over 25 years experience in the IT industry.
He volunteers his time at the ACT Law Society Legal Advice Bureau.
A big supporter of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Tara Winkler’s Cambodian Children’s Trust (CCT), Owen spends a lot of his weekends riding his motorbike trailing behind Karen to raise money for Black Dog, the Salvos, Prostate Cancer, Wall to Wall and many more worthy causes.
Bronwyn Huntley
Office Manager and Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1684691)
Bronwyn wants to live in a world where she can use a ‘time-turner’ for real, get Owen to exercise regularly (or at all) and stop him sneaking sweets (apparently lollies washed down with Diet Coke is not a breakfast).
Bronwyn has been working on migration matters since February 2014. She loves nothing more than crossing the Ts and dotting the Is on all paperwork. She is tasked not only with assisting clients but also using her enthusiasm for exercise to power walk with Owen around Lake Burley Griffin as often as possible after the whinging has stopped. She also tries to stop him from telling ‘Dad jokes’ or sharing his ‘fatherly wisdom’ in front of clients. Because he is a father of 5 and grandfather of 8 so knows how to handle a child at any age in any situation.
She has a strong following amongst our client base See what our client’s say about her here.
In her spare time – there is no spare time with three children, two dogs and a volunteer firefighter for a husband. She is the crazy mum on the sidelines when a goal is scored at soccer while she is trying to attend to her timekeeper duties.
You all know that Bronwyn runs the show. She is the fuel of the company and will probably respond to your emails and texts at crazy times of the day or night.
Her fans love her. She is detail-focused and loves processes and lists. She still rues the day she left her job as Copy Centre Coordinator something at Officeworks (you know that shrine we all worship at once a week).
She hates being called a Senior RMA (dont even get Owen started) but she is one.
Our exceptional and skilful support team
Krystal Curley
Administration Officer
Krystal wants to live in a world where husbands finish the building projects they start and children would understand there is a life without wifi. She is our accounts guru – reminding everyone how they should enter charges correctly and gently reminding us when we haven’t!! She spends half her time telling the boss to keep his hands out of the Xero stuff. She has many years’ experience as a legal secretary and receptionist. Like her Dad Owen, she enjoys a good cup of tea. When she isn’t doing the school run and teaching her kids how to drive, Krystal can be found sorting out their home in the Dandenong mountains.
Krystal is also qualified to be an enrolled nurse.
Like what you are reading?
If you feel that the TranQuill Legal team are who you would like to assist you in your legal matter, we would love to hear from you. Use the form on our contact page or please do call the Canberra office (9am to 5pm weekdays) or email [email protected] and we will be happy to arrange an appointment for you that suits your schedule.
Also why not read about what our past clients have to say about us.