Tompkins Wake
Tompkins Wake is a New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1922 with 130+ staff across offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Tauranga, serving corporates, SMEs and startups across 36 practice areas with an AI-enabled SME platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1922
- HeadquartersRotorua, New Zealand
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tompkins Wake does
Tompkins Wake is a New Zealand full-service commercial law firm founded in 1922 and headquartered in Hamilton, operating four offices across Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Tauranga with 130+ staff. The firm delivers legal services across 36 practice areas including corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, dispute resolution and litigation, construction, commercial property, employment, immigration, intellectual property, agribusiness, energy, food and beverage, Māori business, and private equity and venture capital, serving large corporates and listed enterprises alongside SMEs, government, agribusiness and growth-stage startups.
The firm operates a dual go-to-market: a partner-led enterprise field-sales model for complex mandates evidenced by clients such as Gallagher Group, Open Country Dairy, Foster Group, Obayashi Corporation, Ultrafast Fibre and Crown Fibre Holdings, complemented by an AdviSME self-serve platform with AI-powered Business Healthcheck, automated smart legal documents and fixed-fee or monthly subscription pricing for the SME segment. Additional technology-enabled offerings include the Virtual General Counsel outsourced in-house counsel service, the TW Drive resource platform for the startup and venture capital ecosystem, Josef-powered legal bots and Settify-enabled online client intake. Early-adopter integrations with LawVu, Automio, RedView, Josef, and Settify underpin internal practice operations and client delivery. Revenue is generated through traditional professional fee billing for enterprise mandates and subscription or fixed-fee pricing for SME and startup services; the firm is privately held as a partnership and does not publicly disclose financial results.
Tompkins Wake firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tompkins Wake
- Legal name
- Tompkins Wake
- Website
- https://tompkinswake.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1922
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Tompkins Wake is a New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1922 with 130+ staff across offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Tauranga, serving corporates, SMEs and startups across 36 practice areas with an AI-enabled SME platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tompkins Wake industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Legal Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Real Estate & Construction Law (BPAHAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Litigation & Dispute Valuation (damages, shareholder disputes) (FSAEAHAI), Closing & Settlement Services (Settlement Agents) (BPAJAOAE)
Keywords
Where Tompkins Wake is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotorua
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices4 records
Markets served
Tompkins Wake business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Legal Services - Professional Fees: Traditional legal service fees for corporate and commercial law matters including M&A, litigation, property, employment, and specialized industry sectors. Services delivered by partner-led teams with expertise across multiple practice areas.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise legal services with partner-led teams |
| Subscription | Monthly | AdviSME SME platform with AI Business Healthcheck |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Tompkins Wake product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tompkins Wake is a full-service commercial law firm providing legal advice across 36+ practice areas including corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution and litigation, construction, property, employment, immigration, insolvency, and intellectual property. The firm serves enterprise clients through partner-led teams and SMEs via its AdviSME technology platform, augmented by AI-powered tools such as the Business Healthcheck and automated smart legal documents.
Product overview
Tompkins Wake is a leading New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1922, operating from four offices (Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga). The firm offers a comprehensive suite of legal services across 36 practice areas, underpinned by a portfolio of technology-enhanced products. The core offering is full-service legal advice across corporate/commercial, property, litigation, employment, and specialist sectors. This is augmented by legal tech products: AdviSME (AI-powered SME legal platform with automated documents and Business Healthcheck), Virtual General Counsel (on-demand in-house legal team service), TW Drive (startup/VC legal resources), Josef bots (automated client service delivery), and Settify (AI-powered family law client engagement). The firm also leverages tools including LawVu, Automio, RedView, and Josef for internal operations and client service delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AdviSME: A technology-driven legal service using automation and AI to provide innovative and affordable legal solutions for SMEs.
- Virtual General Counsel (VirtualGC)
- TW Drive
Products and services
- Core Legal Services Full-service commercial law firm offering legal services across 36 practice areas including Corporate & Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Construction, Commercial Property, Employment, Privacy & Data Protection, Technology & Digital, Agribusiness, Energy, Food & Beverage, Franchising, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Māori Business, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Restructuring & Insolvency, and more. Services delivered through offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga.
- AdviSME Technology-driven legal service using automation and AI to deliver affordable legal solutions for small-to-medium businesses. Includes a free AI Business Healthcheck, automated smart legal documents, and human lawyer review. Operated by Tompkins Wake as a separate brand targeting the SME market.
- Virtual General Counsel (VirtualGC) Provides access to Tompkins Wake's entire team of lawyers on demand, with a dedicated relationship manager coordinating specialist expertise for business clients. Targets larger clients needing full-service in-house legal support with cost certainty.
- TW Drive Legal resource platform designed to support New Zealand start-ups and venture capital ecosystem with interactive tools, automated legal documents, and resources targeted at founders and growing start-ups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Construction team has worked on projects totalling more than $1 billion over the past decade
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tompkins Wake
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tompkins Wake technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability5 records
Feature7 records
Tompkins Wake partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- The IcehousecoreRegional partnership for Waikato and Bay of Plenty with business capability building programmes, workshops, coaching and advisory services. Tompkins Wake contributes $15,000 in scholarships for the first year, including two Owner Manager Programme scholarships valued at $5,000 and five 'Taking Your Business Forward' scholarships of $1,000 each.
- MultilawcoreMembership in elite global law network spanning 100+ countries with 10,000+ lawyers. Provides Tompkins Wake clients access to expert international legal advice and consistent service for New Zealand companies operating globally. Multilaw member firms are ranked in more than 132 practice categories by leading legal guides including Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
- Imagimation SchoolsupportingDigital learning and innovation workplace that collaborated with Tompkins Wake to create the AdviSME Business Healthcheck using AI tools combined with legal expertise. Partnership to develop automated legal documents powered by Automio.
- LawVusupportingLegal operations software provider. Tompkins Wake was one of the first users of the software which improves communication, visibility, knowledge management and aids information sharing between clients and their lawyers.
- AutomiosupportingLegal automation platform used for developing client onboarding and recruitment forms and building bots to power legal work for the AdviSME platform.
- RedRain (RedView)supportingLegal app provider. Tompkins Wake co-funded development of RedView's integration into commonly used practice management systems to provide mobile access to client information, matters and time recording.
- JosefsupportingLegal automation platform for building bots that make delivery of the firm's services more accessible, efficient and seamless for clients. Tompkins Wake is the first New Zealand law firm to use Josef.
- SettifysupportingAI-software enabling family lawyers to engage with clients online and enables clients to complete a legal needs assessment online before meeting their lawyer.
- Imagimation SchoolsupportingCreated AI-powered Business Healthcheck for AdviSME platform, combining powerful AI tools with Tompkins Wake legal expertise.
- The Good CollectivesupportingCollaboration focused on creating a Waikato charitable sector that is more effective, more sustainable and delivers more impact to the communities within the region. Tompkins Wake is a member of this collective.
- Momentum Community FoundationsupportingSocial enterprise that Tompkins Wake was instrumental in helping form. The firm continues to support the Foundation with advice to help achieve greater social impact.
- Shakespeare Martineau (Multilaw)supportingFellow Multilaw member firm that Tompkins Wake worked alongside on the East Imperial acquisition and reverse listing on London Stock Exchange.
- KPMGsupportingAdvisory firm that Tompkins Wake worked with for Obayashi Corporation on the Eastland Generation acquisition.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tompkins Wake competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bell Gully: Bell Gully is NZ's largest full-service commercial law firm, headquartered in Auckland and Wellington. It is a direct competitor to Tompkins Wake for top-tier corporate, M&A, and dispute resolution work, but operates at significantly greater scale and brand recognition.
- MinterEllison Rudd Watts: MinterEllison Rudd Watts is the NZ arm of the MinterEllison global network, offering full-service commercial law across corporate, M&A, and dispute resolution. It is a competitor on mid-market NZ M&A deals and has been a co-counsel with Tompkins Wake on past awards (e.g., Flooring Brands acquisition).
- Buddle Findlay: Buddle Findlay is a leading NZ commercial law firm with strong public law, infrastructure, and corporate practices. It competes with Tompkins Wake for government, energy, and large commercial mandates and operates at comparable geographic spread nationally.
- Russell McVeagh: Russell McVeagh is one of NZ's premier corporate and commercial law firms, traditionally focused on top-tier M&A and capital markets. It is a competitor for high-end mandates and is comparable to Tompkins Wake in client mix but operates at a larger scale with greater brand pull.
- Chapman Tripp: Chapman Tripp is one of NZ's largest full-service commercial law firms with strong corporate, M&A, banking and infrastructure practices. It competes with Tompkins Wake on mid-to-large transactions, especially in the infrastructure and energy sectors where Tompkins Wake has flagged strength.
Direct peers
- Duncan Cotterill: Duncan Cotterill is a NZ mid-size full-service commercial law firm with offices across the country. It is the closest direct peer to Tompkins Wake in scale (mid-tier national), service offering (corporate, commercial property, dispute resolution), and regional/enterprise client mix.
- Lane Neave: Lane Neave is a South Island-based NZ full-service law firm with comparable size and practice breadth. It competes with Tompkins Wake for mid-market corporate work and shares the regional dominance strategy (Christchurch/Canterbury is to Lane Neave what Waikato/Bay of Plenty is to Tompkins Wake).
- Anderson Lloyd: Anderson Lloyd is a NZ full-service commercial law firm with regional strength in the South Island and similar mid-market positioning to Tompkins Wake. It is a direct peer in scale, regional strategy, and practice mix (corporate, property, agribusiness, dispute resolution).
- Hazlett Lawyers: Hazlett Lawyers is a Waikato-based NZ law firm with strong regional presence in Hamilton, directly competing with Tompkins Wake's headquarters market. It is comparable in scale (mid-size regional) and practice mix, and represents the most direct local competitor for Waikato enterprise and SME work.
Regional players
- McVeagh Fleming: McVeagh Fleming is a Bay of Plenty-based NZ law firm with strong regional presence in Tauranga and Rotorua — directly competing with Tompkins Wake's offices in the same geography. It offers a similar full-service commercial practice and is a close competitor for SME and mid-market clients in the region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tompkins Wake social profiles
Digital presenceTompkins Wake compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Tompkins Wake financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tompkins Wake leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Tompkins Wake funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tompkins Wake M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tompkins Wake
What does Tompkins Wake do?
Tompkins Wake is a full-service commercial law firm providing legal advice across 36+ practice areas including corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution and litigation, construction, property, employment, immigration, insolvency, and intellectual property. The firm serves enterprise clients through partner-led teams and SMEs via its AdviSME technology platform, augmented by AI-powered tools such as the Business Healthcheck and automated smart legal documents.
Is Tompkins Wake a public or private company?
Tompkins Wake is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Tompkins Wake founded?
Tompkins Wake was founded in 1922. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Tompkins Wake based?
Tompkins Wake is headquartered in Rotorua, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Tompkins Wake make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services - Professional Fees.
Who are Tompkins Wake's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bell Gully, MinterEllison Rudd Watts, Buddle Findlay, Russell McVeagh and Chapman Tripp. Direct peers are Duncan Cotterill, Lane Neave, Anderson Lloyd and Hazlett Lawyers. McVeagh Fleming is listed as a regional player.
Does Tompkins Wake have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tompkins Wake.
What industry is Tompkins Wake in?
Tompkins Wake's product category is Commercial Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAE, Real Estate & Construction Law, with a secondary code of FSAEAHAI, Litigation & Dispute Valuation (damages, shareholder disputes). Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.