Edison Tam Lawyers are based in Manukau, South Auckland. We’re specialists in dispute resolution. We act for individuals and businesses. For assistance with visa applications, immigration issues, civil litigation, ACC appeals or employment disputes, you can talk to us.
With Edison Tam Lawyers, you have access to the combined expertise and strengths of its two partners, Mike Edison and Jack Tam.
Jack Tam
After qualifying as Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn, London in 1997, I returned to my birthplace in Malaysia to work as an advocate and solicitor for several years in Kuala Lumpur. I developed skills in property, criminal and civil litigation, and commercial law.
Moving to Auckland in 2004, I became a mediator for Tenancy Services in the Housing Ministry. It was there that I realised how much I enjoyed the challenge and satisfaction of helping parties caught up in a dispute resolve their differences. This led to a role as referee in the Disputes Tribunal in Manukau for 12 years.
Mike and I share the same drive to help people obtain justice especially those who are struggling to have their voice heard. Clients appreciate my analytical skills and tenacity. Some find it invaluable that I speak their language. I’m fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Malay and Bahasa Indonesian.
“We both love the challenge and thrill of a good chess game and see some parallels in the work we do. When we go into battle for our clients, it’s all about knowing the law and applying it and developing skilful strategies with the aim to win or resolve their case.”
mike Edison
I qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in September 2000. My first role was for an international law firm in London. For 11 years I worked in commercial and insolvency litigation for international commercial clients. I really enjoyed the complexity of the cases, many of which were cross-border, and the cut and thrust of litigation.
I moved to New Zealand in 2010 and requalified as a barrister and solicitor here in October 2014. I worked first for an Auckland-based law practice on ‘leaky homes’ cases, and then for the Auckland office of an international law firm. This included defending claims and disciplinary complaints against professionals.
Later, I was appointed as a reviewer under the Accident Compensation Act, an adjudication role resolving appeals from decisions made by ACC. This gave me a good grounding in medico-legal issues. I have also been an adjudicator in the Disputes and Tenancy Tribunals.
Taken together, I offer a wealth of legal experience from a career in dispute resolution spanning nearly 25 years, in the UK and in New Zealand.
sameer rai
I am a qualified solicitor and barrister in New Zealand, having completed my Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Waikato in 2023. My early legal experience at a Treaty law firm, first as a Law Clerk and then as Legal Counsel, provided me with a strong foundation in legal research, drafting opinions, and preparing legal proceedings for the Tribunal and Court. I have gained exposure to complex matters, including assisting in inquiries under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act and various other Waitangi Tribunal Inquiries, as well as handling employment law matters.
Before my legal career, I was a successful entrepreneur and business leader for nearly two decades, establishing and growing several companies in New Zealand and India across the education, training, and document solutions sectors. My background includes an MBA and a BA in Economics.
My extensive prior experience as a Founder and Director has equipped me with exceptional skills in business development, management, project management, and financial oversight, serving a multitude of clients from individuals to large organisations.
Having gone through the migration process myself, I truly get the ups and downs, the hopes, and the struggles that come with it. My own journey, combined with my legal expertise and focus on finding solutions, gives me a real sense of what clients are facing. This empathy and practical knowledge are crucial to my effectively helping and standing up for people dealing with Immigration Law issues.
I am a member of the New Zealand Law Society and an Associate Member of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand. Combining my robust business acumen with my legal qualifications and practical experience in dispute resolution and legal analytics, I offer a unique and mature perspective, ready to tackle complex legal challenges. I am trilingual in English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
