Tom Ashley was called to the NZ bar in 2015 and started legal practice at a large Auckland firm. He joined Eldon Chambers in 2022. Tom has a broad civil litigation practice with a particular interest in contract, property, maritime and international commercial law. He regularly appears in New Zealand courts, in arbitrations and in specialist tribunals, and 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.

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. He has coached athletes to World Championship and Olympic medals. 

Tom is currently a member of the World Sailing Investigations Panel, tasked with investigating and prosecuting breaches of the World Sailing Code of Ethics.