The corporate and commercial team at Tompkins Wake regularly advises clients on a variety of matters, with a focus on M&A, private equity, infrastructure, and cross-border investments. In the energy and infrastructure sector, the team often advises international investors on New Zealand’s renewable energy transition, particularly in transitions requiring approval from the Overseas Investment Office. Mark Renner heads the practice with a focus on cross-border transactions, project development, and capital structuring matters. The team further includes talented lawyers such as Mark Lowndes and Phil Taylor.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Very strong and substantial team. Quality all around. Great client service. We have absolute trust in the work we give them.'
- 'Mark Lowndes - exceptional commercial mind. Great to work with. Lateral thinker.'
- 'Kerri Dewe - diligent, client-focused, and takes time to invest in client relationships.'
- 'I have worked with Mark Renner and the corporate team at Tompkins Wake on a range of corporate and M&A matters for more than 10 years. I continue to use them because I can trust their advice - they know our history and market - their advice is clear, reliable, and well tailored to the needs of our business.'
- 'Mark Renner is a steady hand. He takes the time to understand the context before offering a view, and his advice is always focused on what’s workable in practice — not just what the law says.'
- 'Tompkins Wake enjoys a deep bench of excellent mid-level attorneys guided by senior lawyers. This helps turn documents more quickly.'
Key clients
- Obayashi Corporation
- Cyprus Enterprises Limited
- Mews Systems B.V.
- Precisely Software Inc
- Reclaim Limited
- Sunkist Growers Inc
- Vitality Brands Worldwide Pty Limited
- Motion Capital
- Maker Partners
- Ruminant Biotech Corp
- Zip Co
- Open Country Dairy Limited
Work highlights
Advised Yabble on its acquisition by YouGov Plc, including deal structuring, regulatory compliance, and managing complex shareholder negotiations in a cross-border transaction.
Advised Obayashi Corporation on its NZ$228 million investment in Eastland Generation, a major renewable energy company, including due diligence, regulatory approvals, and Overseas Investment Office consent.
Advised Hamilton City Council on complex development agreements worth over NZ$100 million to enable large-scale greenfield development across multiple landowners and developers, including land acquisition, infrastructure delivery, and development contributions.
Practice head
Mark Renner
Other key lawyers
Mark Lowndes; Phil Taylor; Kerri Dewe; Tina Liu; Luke Bowers