Amanda’s educational, professional, and personal backgrounds equip her to provide exceptional care and advocacy for her clients, whether seeking a US visa or residency; wanting to end their ties with the USA; or needing help making sense of the US immigration system.

She first started working in an immigration law office over 25 years ago as a student near Cleveland, Ohio. The experience inspired her to study Spanish and international relations at university and while living in Spain and Ecuador. After undergraduate, Amanda moved to the west coast and settled in Seattle. There, she met her life partner, a Kiwi from Wellington; studied graduate level law; and launched her immigration law career representing undocumented individuals seeking asylum and/or facing deportation.

After relocating to Auckland with her partner and their three children, she founded Optimum Law to provide US immigration law expertise to individuals and couples across the motu.

Amanda passionately delivers legal services based in sound legal reasoning with consideration for the human experience and practical realities. She considers it a privilege to use both her legal experience and deep understanding of the USA and Aotearoa New Zealand to guide Kiwis through the US immigration system.

Outside of legal work and family life, Amanda is an avid reader and proud supporter of the Auckland Writers Festival, outdoor enthusiast, and keen baker.