Civil Litigation Senior Associate or Associate

tompkinswake; Hamilton; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Meaningful litigation work

Development pathways

Mentoring

Flexible/hybrid working

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Tompkins Wake is seeking an experienced Civil Litigation Senior Associate to join our Hamilton or Auckland office, with hybrid working options. You will work on a broad range of civil disputes alongside partners and the independent bar, developing client relationships and taking ownership as you grow.

We value roughly 4–8 years PQE, strong drafting and advocacy, sound commercial judgment, and a collaborative mindset to progress in a supportive, national firm environment.

Qualifications

• Approximately 4–8 years' PQE in civil litigation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with drafting and advocacy ability.
• Sound judgement and strong commercial awareness.
• Experience managing or supporting litigation matters.
• High attention to detail and a collaborative approach.
• Willingness to grow your practice within the team.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice across a range of civil and commercial disputes.
• Court appearances commensurate with experience.
• Work alongside Partners, Special Counsel and the independent bar.
• Collaborate with teams across the firm on contentious matters.
• Build strong and lasting client relationships.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal

Drafting and advocacy

Commercial awareness

Judgement and decision-making

Litigation management

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Mandarin language skills

Job description

Civil Litigation Senior Associate (Associate)

Hamilton or Auckland | Hybrid Working

We're growing our Civil Litigation team at Tompkins Wake and are looking for an experienced litigator to join us in Hamilton or Auckland, with flexible and hybrid working options available.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside experienced Partners and Special Counsel on a broad range of civil and commercial disputes. Our team advises both public and private sector clients on significant and complex matters across New Zealand.

We're ideally seeking an experienced civil litigator (approximately 4–8 years' PQE). However, we're also open to hearing from lawyers with different levels of experience who can demonstrate strong litigation capability, commercial judgement, and the right mindset to grow within our team.

You’ll be involved in a broad range of civil and commercial litigation including:

• Providing strategic advice across a range of disputes
• Court appearances (commensurate with your experience)
• Working alongside Partners, Special Counsel and the independent bar on complex matters
• Collaborating with teams across the firm on contentious issues
• Building strong and lasting client relationships

As your experience grows, you'll take increasing ownership of matters and play a greater role in developing client relationships and contributing to the continued success of the team.

About You

You’ll bring:

• Approximately 4–8 years' PQE in civil litigation (although we're open to candidates with differing levels of experience who demonstrate strong litigation capability)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with well-developed drafting and advocacy ability
• Sound judgement and strong commercial awareness
• Experience managing or supporting litigation matters
• High attention to detail and commitment to delivering quality outcomes
• A collaborative, team-focused approach and a genuine desire to continue developing your practice

Experience in any of the following areas would be an advantage, but is not essential:

• Construction litigation
• Competition and/or regulatory law
• Intellectual Property (IP)

Mandarin language skills (at any level of proficiency) would be of assistance with part of the team's client base.

Why Tompkins Wake?

At Tompkins Wake, you'll find the balance many lawyers are looking for,high quality work, real responsibility, and a genuinely supportive team.

We combine the capability of a large national firm with the connection and agility of a regional one, giving our people the opportunity to work on complex matters while building rewarding and sustainable careers.

We offer:

• Competitive remuneration aligned with experience
• High-quality, meaningful litigation work
• Clear development and progression pathways
• Mentoring from experienced practitioners
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• A collaborative and connected culture across all four offices

About Us

Tompkins Wake is a national, award-winning law firm with offices in Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we're proud of the culture we've built, one where people are supported to grow, collaborate, and do their best work.

Our Commitment

We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our Rainbow Tick certification and participation in the New Zealand Law Society Gender Equality Charter reflect our belief that diverse perspectives strengthen our firm, our culture, and the service we provide our clients.