Tompkins Wake

1. Business / Trading Name: Tompkins Wake (legally incorporated as Tompkins Wake Limited). Originally founded as “Tompkins and Wake” in 1922.

2. Former Name(s): Tompkins and Wake (1922); briefly known as Tompkins, Wake, Paterson and Bathgate (c.1960s–1980s) before reverting to Tompkins Wake.

3. Date of Establishment: 22 June 1922 – firm’s founding in Hamilton, New Zealand.

4. Founders: Lance Tompkins (later a Queen’s Counsel and Supreme/High Court judge) and Cecil “Barry” Wake. The Tompkins family remained influential (Sir David Tompkins, Lance’s son, became a High Court Judge and University Chancellor).

5. Legal Status: Private partnership of lawyers, with a registered company for operations. Tompkins Wake Limited is a NZ Limited Company (Co. No. 1013847, NZBN 9429037373382) registered 4 Feb 2000. The firm is not publicly listed and is owned by its partners.

6. Headquarters: Hamilton, New Zealand – Westpac House, 430 Victoria Street, Hamilton.

7. Other Office Locations: Auckland, Rotorua, and Tauranga, New Zealand. (Expanded beyond Hamilton from 2012 onwards – see Historical Background).

8. Contact Details: Phone +64 7 839 4771; Website:

https://www.tompkinswake.com/

8. ; General email: tomwake@tompkinswake.co.nz (Data from firm’s site; public email contact).

9. Leadership & Governance: Governed by a Board of Partners (28 partners as of 2022). Chairperson: Scott Ratuki (appointed 2022). Chief Executive Officer: Jon Calder (in role since c.2015). The CEO is a non-partner executive, reflecting a corporate management structure.

10. Other Key Personnel: Notable senior partners include Tom Arieli (Board Dynamics co-director), Phil Taylor (Sport Waikato Chair), and Mark Lowndes (joined via merger, prominent Auckland lawyer). Consultant Dr. Edward Willis (see Academic links) is a key public/regulatory law adviser.

11. Total Staff: Approx. 200 personnel (lawyers and staff). This includes over 120 lawyers (one of NZ’s ten largest law firms by headcount). The partnership numbered 22 in 2019, growing to 28 partners by 2022.

12. Areas of Operation: Full-service commercial law firm – providing corporate, commercial, property, dispute resolution, public/regulatory, and private client legal services nationally. The firm operates across New Zealand’s “economic and commercial heartland” (Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland).

13. Sector Specialisations: Local Government law, Resource Management (environment), Property Development & Construction, Agribusiness & Dairy, Forestry, Energy, Food & Beverage, Life Sciences (Pharmaceuticals & Health), among others.

14. Major Clients: Not publicly disclosed. The firm states it works with “some of New Zealand’s largest” companies in dairy, meat, poultry, honey, food and beverage processing. It also advises multinational pharmaceutical and animal health corporations through its life sciences practice. Government clients include numerous local councils (district and regional authorities) across New Zealand. (No comprehensive client list available; confidentiality typical.)

15. Ownership Structure: Privately held partnership. Equity is shared among partner-owners (no external shareholders). No single external owner; historically influenced by the founding Tompkins family until mid-20th century (now purely partner-owned).

16. Associated Entities: Member of Multilaw, a global alliance of law firms. No known parent company or subsidiaries in NZ or abroad (aside from passive trustee companies for client services). Past mergers have been absorbed under the Tompkins Wake brand (e.g. Tompkins Wake (Incorporating Davys Burton) in Rotorua).

17. International Linkages: Via Multilaw, the firm has alliances in 100+ countries, enabling international client referrals. It also advises foreign investors entering NZ (e.g. navigating Overseas Investment Office approvals). No foreign offices of its own.

18. Political Engagements: No registered lobbying arm (NZ has no mandatory lobbyist register). The firm engages with government primarily through legal advocacy: submissions on law reforms, consultations, and representing clients in dealings with ministers and agencies. Senior staff occasionally form or join business coalitions to influence policy (see Part Two).

19. Use of External Lobbyists: Data Not Found/Not Applicable. As a law firm, Tompkins Wake itself performs government relations and legal lobbying functions for clients. It does not appear to hire third-party lobbying firms for its own interests.

20. Political Contributions: No record of direct political donations by the firm. (NZ Electoral Commission disclosures show no donations under the firm’s name; any partner personal donations are not publicly attributable to the firm – Data Not Found).

21. Revolving Door Personnel: Few known ex-politicians in firm. However, the firm does employ former government officials/lawyers. Dr. Edward Willis (Consultant) previously worked at the Commerce Commission (NZ’s competition regulator). No ex-MPs or former Ministers have been identified on staff (the firm’s leadership is drawn from career lawyers).

22. Academic Affiliations: Dr. Edward Willis, a University of Otago law academic, is engaged as a consultant. He contributes academic expertise in regulatory and competition law, sometimes authoring firm-backed policy submissions. No other current staff are known to hold academic posts, though the firm’s lawyers publish in legal journals and present at universities on law reform topics (as part of thought leadership).

23. Policy Advocacy & Submissions: Active in law reform input. Tompkins Wake has formally submitted on proposed legislation/regulations – e.g. a detailed submission on Commerce Act reform in 2016 (on firm letterhead, authored by Dr. Willis), advocating changes to competition law, and further inputs in 2019. The firm’s lawyers also serve on advisory committees of professional bodies (Law Society, etc.) that lobby for legislative improvements (specific roles undisclosed – Data Not Found).

24. Notable Lobbying Activities: Historically, the firm undertook an unusual lobbying-themed publicity campaign called “The Case for Hamilton” (2009) – a tongue-in-cheek threat to sue the rest of NZ for deterring lawyers from Hamilton. In addition, the firm’s CEO joined Agenda Waikato in 2017, a regional lobby group engaging parliamentary election candidates on local issues. These efforts, though atypical, highlight Tompkins Wake’s willingness to assert regional interests.

25. Industry and Lobby Group Memberships: Tompkins Wake is an active member of the New Zealand Law Society (mandatory for legal practice). It is also involved in local business networks – e.g. Partners hold positions in the Waikato Pacific Business Network and other community economic groups. The firm is not listed as a member of dedicated lobbying associations (NZ lacks a lobbyist register). It does, however, partner with governance consultancies (Board Dynamics) to extend its influence in corporate governance circles.

26. Corporate Social Responsibility: The firm positions itself as a community-minded organisation. It has been the principal sponsor of the National Contemporary Art Award since 2014, and supports local initiatives (Sport Waikato, Creative Waikato, etc., via partners’ involvement). While charitable, such sponsorships also bolster the firm’s public image and networks.

27. Key Historical Milestones: 1922 – Founded in Hamilton. 1950s–60s – Expansion as partners attained national prominence (Tompkins QC, etc.). 2009 – “Case for Hamilton” campaign raised profile. 2010 – Acquired local firm Swarbrick Dixon, becoming Hamilton’s largest firm. 2012 – Opened Auckland office, entering NZ’s main commercial market. 2014 – Merged with Davys Burton (Rotorua), extending to Bay of Plenty region. 2018 – Opened Tauranga office (organically, then bolstered by later merger). 2020 – Acquired Lowndes Law in Auckland, adding significant commercial practice. 2022 – Celebrated centenary; appointed first Māori/Pasifika board Chair (Ratuki). 2023 – Acquired Mackenzie Elvin Law (Tauranga), making Tompkins Wake the largest law firm in the central North Island.

28. Financial Information: Not publicly disclosed. As a private firm, financials are confidential. However, the scale (120+ lawyers) suggests annual revenues in the multi-millions (likely placing in NZ’s top 10 firms by revenue). The firm’s growth via mergers indicates a strategy of reinvestment and market capture rather than external capital.

29. Official Regulatory Oversight: Lawyers are regulated by the NZ Law Society – Tompkins Wake and its practitioners must adhere to the Lawyers & Conveyancers Act and Code of Conduct. There is no specific oversight or transparency regime for the firm’s lobbying interactions, since NZ has no mandatory lobbying register or regulations. This absence means the firm’s influence activities occur under general legal ethical rules (duty of honesty, confidentiality, etc.) but without dedicated lobbying transparency requirements.

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Sources:

[1] Tompkins Wake Limited – NZBN 9429037373382 (company profile), NZWAO New Zealand Business Directory, https://www.nzwao.com/tompkins-wake-limited
[2] Tompkins Wake (Wikipedia page), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tompkins_Wake
[3] Tompkins Wake – History and Profile (Key people, founding date), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tompkins_Wake
[4] “Obituary Judge John Bathgate” (reference to 1960s name Paterson & Bathgate), NZ Law Society,

https://www.lawsociety.org.nz

(Retrieved via Wikipedia)
[5] “Take that NZ: Lawyers consider suing the nation”, Stuff News, https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/740358 (Referenced via Wikipedia)
[6] “Tompkins Wake and Davys Burton to merge”, NZ Law Society News, 25 May 2017, https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/…/tompkins-wake-and-davys-burton-to-merge (Referenced via Wikipedia)
[7] Merger announcement: Wheels in motion for the next big firm?, NZ Lawyer (Sophie Schroder), 10 Oct 2014, https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/news/general/merger-announcement-wheels-in-motion-for-the-next-big-firm/197486
[8] Merger brings 18 partners and 81 staff; “tongue-in-cheek” Case for Hamilton campaign, NZ Lawyer, 10 Oct 2014, https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/news/general/merger-announcement-wheels-in-motion-for-the-next-big-firm/197486
[9] Law Firm Acquisition Powers Tompkins Wake Into Top 10, LawFuel News, 21 Jul 2023, https://www.lawfuel.com/law-firm-acquisition-powers-tompkins-wake-into-top-10-list/
[10] Tompkins Wake acquires Mackenzie Elvin (Tauranga) & Lowndes (Auckland), LawFuel, 21 Jul 2023, https://www.lawfuel.com/law-firm-acquisition-powers-tompkins-wake-into-top-10-list/
[11] “Tompkins Wake a rising star in Legal 500 rankings”, Waikato.com News, 3 Feb 2020, https://www.waikato.com/whats-on/news/2020/02/02/tompkins-wake-a-rising-star-in-legal-500-rankings
[12] TW doubled Auckland team, opened Tauranga office (2018–2019 growth), Waikato Story – Tompkins Wake, 3 Feb 2020, https://www.waikato.com/…/tompkins-wake-a-rising-star-in-legal-500-rankings
[13] Lawzana – Tompkins Wake profile (Founded 1922, ~200 people), Lawzana.com (Government Relations Lawyers in Hamilton), May 2025, https://lawzana.com/government-relations-lobbying-lawyers/hamilton-waikato?page=2
[14] Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Dispute Resolution (Band 4: Tompkins Wake), Chambers and Partners, 2025 edition, https://chambers.com/legal-rankings/dispute-resolution-new-zealand-8:467:158:1 (Tompkins Wake overview)
[15] Chambers review: “notably active for local government, agribusiness, dairy, property… regulatory cases (RMA, OIO, etc.)”, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025, https://chambers.com/…/dispute-resolution-new-zealand… (Tompkins Wake snippet)
[16] Tompkins Wake – Life Sciences & Biotechnology (Practice description), TompkinsWake.com (firm website), https://www.tompkinswake.com/expertise/life-sciences-and-biotechnology/
[17] “…advises some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and animal health companies”, Tompkins Wake – Life Sciences practice, firm website, https://www.tompkinswake.com/expertise/life-sciences-and-biotechnology/
[18] Tompkins Wake – Local Government practice (Practice description), TompkinsWake.com, https://www.tompkinswake.com/expertise/local-government/
[19] “Local Government practice advises local government clients across NZ and private clients interacting with local government.”, Tompkins Wake – firm website (Local Government),

https://www.tompkinswake.com

(Expertise page snippet)
[20] Agenda Waikato lobby group (2017) – Board includes TW CEO Jon Calder, NZ Herald (Peter Tiffany), 31 Aug 2017, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/new-business-backed-lobby-group-enters-the-election-fray/G3NX2RWMPTYKWUSOHF7MMTHQOI/
[21] “Board… Jon Calder, CEO of law firm Tompkins Wake and Professor Alister Jones…”, NZ Herald, 31 Aug 2017, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/…/new-business-backed-lobby-group-enters-the-election-fray/G3NX2RWM…
[22] Dr. Edward Willis – submission on Commerce Act Review (2019), MBIE (public consultation document), 1 Apr 2019, https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/7071-edward-willis-review-of-section-36-of-the-commerce-act-and-other-matters-submission-pdf
[23] Willis bio: academic at Auckland Law, consultant to govt/private, ex-Commerce Commission, MBIE submission by E. Willis, 2019, https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/7071… (p.1)
[24] MBIE Submission (Willis) – “previously submitted under Tompkins Wake letterhead”, MBIE – Review of Commerce Act, Apr 2019, https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/7071… (p.2)
[25] Tompkins Wake Cross-Submission on Commerce Act (21 July 2016), MBIE (archived PDF), 2016, https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/2308-tompkins-wake-targeted-review-commerce-act-phase-one-cross-submission-pdf
[26] Cross-submission 2016 – contact Edward Willis (Senior Associate), Tompkins Wake letter to MBIE, 21 Jul 2016, https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/2308… (p.1)
[27] RNZ News – “Lobbyists in NZ enjoy freedoms unlike most other nations” (Lobbying environment), Radio New Zealand, 24 Mar 2023, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/486670/
[28] “There are no rules… no watchdog… NZ is the wild west of lobbying.”, RNZ News, 24 Mar 2023, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/486670/ (quoting Transparency International NZ)
[29] LinkedIn – Bryce Edwards: Launching the NZ Lobbying & Influence Register, 7 Apr 2025, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/launching-nz-lobbying-influence-register-bryce-edwards (Integrity Institute Director’s article)
[30] “You’ll find… legal powerhouses (e.g. Chapman Tripp, Russell McVeagh) – if an organisation bends ears of ministers, it belongs on this register.”, Bryce Edwards (Integrity Institute) via LinkedIn, 7 Apr 2025, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/launching-nz-lobbying-influence-register-bryce-edwards
[31] Tompkins Wake – “In Our Communities” (partners on boards), TompkinsWake.com (Community page), 2022, https://www.tompkinswake.com/about/in-our-communities/ (snippet via Google)
[32] “Sport Waikato – Partner Phil Taylor is Chair… Waikato Pacific Business Network – Partner Scott Ratuki is Board Member…”, Tompkins Wake – In Our Communities, 2022, via Google snippet, https://www.tompkinswake.com/about/in-our-communities/
[33] NZ Lawyer – “Tompkins Wake welcomes new board chair”, NZ Lawyer (Katrina Eñano), 10 Sep 2022, https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/news/general/tompkins-wake-welcomes-new-board-chair/419963
[34] Scott Ratuki profile – governance roles (trustee of Enrich+, Waikato Property Trust, etc.), NZ Lawyer, 10 Sep 2022, https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/news/general/tompkins-wake-welcomes-new-board-chair/419963
[35] Integrity Institute – “Medicines New Zealand” entry (citing Lexology Q&A by Tompkins Wake), Bryce Edwards (Substack), Apr 2025,

https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/medicines-new-zealand

(snippet)
[36] Lexology Q&A: Pharma & medical device regulation in NZ (Tompkins Wake, Dec 2019), Lexology (Robert Bycroft & team, Tompkins Wake), 09 Dec 2019, https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=…
[37] Legal 500 – “Pharmaceutical Advertising 2024 – New Zealand”, Legal500.com (Tompkins Wake contribution), 2024, https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/new-zealand-pharmaceutical-advertising/
[38] Local Government Magazine – “The Auditor-General is watching” (mentions law firm advice on council matters), LocalGovernmentMagazine.co.nz, May 2023, https://localgovernmentmag.co.nz/the-auditor-general-is-watching/
[39] Transparency International NZ Report (Nov 2022) – Lobbying in NZ, Transparency.org.nz, Nov 2022, “The absence of independent oversight of lobbying in NZ is glaring.”, (cited by RNZ) https://www.transparency.org.nz/… (TI-NZ lobbying report)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz