Tompkins Wake is ‘very experienced with cross-border transactions and is active and connected throughout the region’. The team is regularly instructed on large and complex transactions, across every aspect of the company’s lifecycle. The practice is steered by Hamilton-based Mark Renner who handles the full spectrum of corporate mandates, ranging from joint ventures and commercial contracts to private debt and equity financing. Mark Lowndes, based in Auckland, is praised as a ‘visionary in relation to business issues and finding solutions.’ 

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The entire team (both lawyers and support staff) are personable, commercial, responsive and practical. They are willing to collaborate and become part of the client's (and the referring lawyer's) team. They are technically astute, but also adapt their approach (including communication style) to meet the client's needs.'

  • ‘Mark Lowndes and Kerri Dewe are both super-responsive and personable. They are always a safe pair of hands and look after our client files in a superb manner. I recommend them unreservedly.'

  • ‘Very strong M&A practice - great coverage in skillset, experience, and industry knowledge. Have very good (probably the best I know of) geographic coverage as well.'

  • 'They are very practical and pragmatic - essential in M&A work. Also have depth and skillset for more technical corporate work. The firm and people in it are very experienced with cross border transactions and are active and connected throughout the region.'

  • ‘Mark Lowndes - been my go-to in NZ for many years, ably supported by Kerri Dewe, who is now a Partner and very hands-on. Mark is a visionary in relation to business issues and finding solutions - a lateral thinker and problem solver.'

  • 'Kerri Dewe is very focussed, and technical, but still commercial and pragmatic.'

  • ‘Exceptional commercial advice when negotiating with clients and bankers. Always available to meet.’

Key clients

  • Cash Converters International Limited
  • Property Suite Limited
  • Hillfarrance Venture Capital
  • Company-X Ltd
  • Better Eggs Limited
  • Open Country Dairy Limited
  • WEL Networks
  • The Lines Company
  • Waipa Networks
  • Barfoot & Thompson Limited
  • SKYCITY Entertainment Group

Work highlights

  • Advised Hillfarrance Venture Capital on the $15m+ investment by Elevate NZ Venture Fund into the Hillfarrance Fund I.
  • Advising Cash Converters International Limited (CCIL) on the acquisition of the remaining 75% shareholding in Cash Converters NZ.
  • Advised Property Suite on the sale of its business to US company, MRI Software, an international provider of real estate and investment management software.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mark Renner

Other key lawyers

Mark Lowndes, Phil Taylor, Tom Arieli, Kerri Dewe, Bryce Davey