Lee was appointed by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Specialist in Family Law in 2017. He is the only Family Law Accredited Specialist in the Central Coast/Hunter region to sit on the Law Society’s Family Law Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee after his appointment in 2018. Lee is also recognised on 2023 Doyle’s Guide as a leading Family Law & Divorce Lawyer – Newcastle, Hunter Valley & Central Coast.

Lee is the head of our Family Law Team, the largest family law practice on the Central Coast. He is highly skilled across all areas of family law, and has a strong reputation for acting in complex, high net worth property matters, including family businesses, companies and trusts.

Lee’s practice is now almost exclusively in Family Law, although he also has broad experience in all aspects of litigation including criminal and commercial litigation, workplace/industrial cases and other types of civil disputes.

Outside of work, Lee enjoys time with his young family, and he is by his own admission sports crazy and a cricket tragic.

Paul is a leading family lawyer on the Central Coast, a nationally accredited mediator and an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Paul has been admitted as a solicitor for over 25 years and practised on the Central Coast for the last 20 years.

Paul is well regarded for his expertise in complex family law matters, including difficult parenting disputes and risk cases. As well as working within the court system, Paul has extensive experience in resolving family law matters outside the court system and encourages the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution processes in his practice. Paul’s sensible approach to matters sees many favourable settlements for his clients prior to needing to commence Court proceedings.

Paul also assists clients with estate planning, conveyancing and leases.

Paul is currently a Director of Peninsula Villages, as well as a past President of the Rotary Club of Umina Beach, past Vice Chairman of the Central Coast Small Business Networking Group and an active member of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

In March 2023, Nick returned to Tonkin Drysdale Partners as Special Counsel after spending two years as a Solicitor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Previously, Nick worked at TDP for over three years almost exclusively in the areas of criminal and family law. Combining his experience on both sides of the bar table, Nick is considered one of the leading criminal law solicitors on the Central Coast with a strong reputation for acting in complex criminal matters.

Nick is also an experienced family law advocate who appears frequently in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

At the ODPP, Nick prosecuted some of the most serious criminal offences in NSW, including murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, and large-scale drug supply. Nick regularly appears in Local, District and Supreme Courts throughout NSW for defended summary hearings, sentences, conviction and severity appeals, fitness hearings and jury trials.

Nick is now the head of our Criminal Law Team, and prides himself on providing clear, frank legal advice and his devotion to each matter in his practice, whether it be a common assault or a murder.

Nick is a member of the Legal Aid NSW Indictable Criminal Law Panel.

Away from the office, Nick and his wife Emily have a growing young family and on weekends, Nick can either be found on the sideline cheering on junior sport or hacking his way around Kooindah Waters golf course.

Joining the firm in 2021, Lucus is part of our Family Law team at Tonkin Drysdale Partners and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.

After working for several highly regarded firms in Newcastle, he brings almost a decade of experience in family law and dispute resolution.

Lucus has recently completed his Master of Laws (Applied Laws) majoring in Family Dispute Resolution to become a Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.

Lucus has had an interest in law from a very young age and enjoys the complex problem-solving challenges it presents daily. He made the decision to practise Family Law to assist parents and children who are going through what is often the most difficult period of their lives.

Eliza is a solicitor who works within Tonkin Drysdale Partners’ Family Law team.

Initially working at Tonkin Drysdale Partners as a Family Law Paralegal with Lee Pawlak, Eliza admitted as a solicitor by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2023.

Eliza developed an interest in the legal profession at a young age, finding herself drawn to the problem-solving nature of legal work. Before working with TDP, Eliza worked as a legal researcher for a reputable barrister in Sydney who practiced in both Family Law and Criminal Law. During her studies she was also awarded the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Law at Macquarie Law School.

Eliza views law as a rewarding career where she can support the TDP team to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Outside of work, you’ll find Eliza exploring the ocean depths through scuba diving and snorkelling with friends and family, conquering scenic trails on hikes or planning her next trip.