Prior to joining chambers, Tom was a barrister in New Zealand, practising mainly in divorce, wills & trusts. He gathered extensive experience quickly, frequently appearing in the District Court, Family Court and the High Court of New Zealand. He also drafted written submissions in the New Zealand Court of Appeal.
Tom started practising in England in 2019 and has quickly built himself a Family Property practice. He specialises in financial remedies, co-habitation, wills, probate, trusts (especially in matrimonial settings), Schedule 1 of the Children Act matters, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act matters and Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act matters. He has particular experience in cases with intervenors claiming beneficial interests under TOLATA in financial remedy proceedings.
He also has experience in private child law, having dealt with common parental disputes, all the way to contested hearings involving serious allegations of child sex abuse. Tom also has experience in property and general civil matters, from land and property disputes to insolvency.
In England, Tom has frequently appeared in the Family Court, County Court, High Court and has drafted written submissions in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.
Due to completing his Master of Laws (LLM) there in 2019, Tom has a strong relationship with King’s College London. He provides multiple pro bono annual workshops for law students, including workshops for witness handling and mooting skills.
Keen to give back to the next generation, Tom is the proud founder and funder of the Gilchrist Grant. The Grant consists of scholarships awarded annually to students from King’s College London who seek to pursue a career at the Bar.
Tom also volunteers for the Chancery Bar Litigant in Person Support Scheme ('CLIPS'), providing on the day pro bono advocacy representation to litigants in person in application courts.
Bachelor of Laws with Honours – University of Otago, New Zealand
Bachelor of Arts, History Major – University of Otago, New Zealand
Professional Legal Studies Course – Institute of Professional Legal Studies, New Zealand
Bar Transfer Test – BPP University Holborn
Master of Laws – King’s College London
Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Chancery Bar Assocaitaion
Family Law Bar Association
Tom's GDPR notice can be found here.