Clear thinking.
Crafted outcomes.
Tom is a strategic advocate who helps clients navigate and resolve complex disputes.
Noted for his practical approach, Tom delivers clear and crafted commercial solutions. He is an experienced advocate who has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand court system and before specialist tribunals, including IPONZ and WIPO.
Tom is recommended by Chambers & Partners, the Legal 500, Managing IP and Doyle's Guide.
Before joining Mills Lane, Tom was a Senior Associate at Chapman Tripp and Chapman Tripp Patents. He previously practised as a junior barrister at Shortland Chambers and served as a Judges’ Clerk.
Expertise
As a litigator, patent attorney and trade marks attorney, Tom is uniquely placed to help innovators protect and enforce their most valuable assets: their intellectual property rights.
Tom has acted in many of New Zealand's leading patent actions for the past decade, involving technologies as diverse as medical devices, security apparatus, chip cell-sorting technologies, and pharmaceuticals. He has extensive experience in copyright and trade mark litigation, and has acted in disputes involving confidential information, registered designs and domain names.
He co-authors the patent and copyright infringement sections in Intellectual Property Law (LexisNexis).
Examples of his work include:
- Resmed v Fisher & Paykel Healthcare: representing Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in successfully opposing an application concerning dual therapy technologies.
- Zuru New Zealand v Lego Holdings: successfully defending Zuru against Lego’s claim that a compatibility statement amounted to trade mark infringement, passing off or breached the Fair Trading Act.
- Inguran v CRV: obtaining an interim injunction to prevent patent infringement by a competitor covering sex-selection flow cytometry technologies.
- Philip Morris v Puff Mart: securing an interim injunction for Philip Morris to stop misleading practices and trade mark infringement.
- Travelxplorer v Apple: acting for an inventor in patent litigation relating to mobile payment technology.
- Fashion designers: representing leading fashion designers in stopping infringement of their designs.
Tom represents clients across the spectrum of commercial disputes, from contractual and negligence claims through to directors or shareholder actions and consumer protection claims.
He formerly co-authored the Shareholder Distributions commentary in Morison’s Company and Securities Law (LexisNexis).
Examples of his work include:
- Rascals International v JJK Group: advancing a claim against former directors and a competitor for diverting a corporate opportunity, breaches of directors’ and fiduciary duties, breach of confidence and dishonest assistance.
- BNZ v Wellington City Council: seeking to strike out a significant contribution claim brought against Beca based on the Building Act 2004’s longstop.
- Metlifecare v James Hardie: acting for the defendants in defending a multi-million dollar product liability claim.
- Re Darlow: representing the trustees in obtaining the Court’s approval of variations to, and the reorganisation of, the Hugh Green Trusts.
Tom regularly acts for individuals, organisations, and the media in bringing or defending defamation claims. His work includes pre-publication vetting and reputation crisis management, where early strategic advice is critical.
He also advises on media standards and advertising codes.
Examples of his work include:
- Dew v Discovery NZ: defending Warner Bros Discovery against an interim injunction by Cardinal Dew and others seeking to stop reporting of serious allegations.
- Being AI v Clare Capital: suing an investment bank for defamation and obtaining a six-figure settlement for an NZX-listed company and its directors.
- Ross v Mediaworks Holdings: successfully resisting an interim order sought by Jami-Lee Ross MP to block Newshub’s "Powerbrokers Debate".
- Craig v Williams: overturning a $1.27m jury verdict and advancing qualified privilege and when that privilege can be lost.
Tom helps organisations navigate their obligations under the Privacy Act, including in data breach situations where speed is essential. He has also acted for individuals and the media in invasion of privacy claims, including in securing or defending against interim injunctions.
Examples of his work include:
- Driver v Radio New Zealand: defending media organisations against an invasion of privacy claim arising out of reporting about the overseas arrest and detention of a New Zealander
- Advisory work: advising the world's largest non-formal education institution on privacy matters, including in Human Rights Review Tribunal proceedings.
- Dew v Discovery NZ: defeating an interim injunction application based on a claim for invasion of privacy in the context of an investigation.
- Sun v Stuff: obtaining a temporary interim injunction to prevent reporting arising out of a Police investigation into a high-profile murder.
Qualifications
LLM, University of Melbourne
MBHL (Distinction), University of Otago
LLB (Honours), BSc (Biochemistry), University of Otago
Registered Patent Attorney (New Zealand and Australia)
Registered Trade Marks Attorney (Australia)
Professional Associations
New Zealand Intellectual Property Attorneys, Fellow
Federal Circuit Bar Association, Global Fellow (2026–2027)
Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
Communications and Media Law Association