Tom Ashley was admitted to the NZ bar in 2015. He started legal practice at a large Auckland firm before spending several years pursuing other professional opportunities. He returned to the legal profession and joined Eldon Chambers in 2022, accepting civil/commercial and regulatory (criminal and investigation) instructions. Tom has a broad civil litigation practice with a particular interest in contract, property, maritime and international commercial law. He has appeared in New Zealand Courts up to the Court of Appeal, in arbitrations and in specialist tribunals, as well as in senior courts in the Cook Islands and Fiji.  He is available to assist with urgent matters including applications for urgent interlocutory orders/injunctions and appeals.

Academically, Tom holds an LLB(Hons) degree from the University of Auckland with Dean’s Academic Excellence and Senior Scholar awards. He graduated with an LLM(Distinction) in Commercial Law in 2023, also from the University of Auckland. He has published in the Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly on admiralty law.

Before starting his legal career, Tom had a successful career in sport. He won an Olympic gold medal in windsurfing in 2008 and a number of World Cup and World Championship titles. Further, Tom has coached athletes to World Championship and Olympic medals. Tom previously worked in sport administration, serving as CEO of Canoe Racing NZ.