Our Team

Over 30 years, Paul has built a reputation as one of the most effective Commercial and Property lawyers on the Central Coast.

Paul is sought after to act in substantial property and commercial transactions. Paul has extensive experience in commercial and business advice, leasing, finance, property transactions, estate planning, hotel and motel transfer, liquor licensing, trusts and litigation. He represents clients locally, nationally and internationally.

Paul was founding past president of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He is also a past Deputy Chairman and former Director of Central Coast Area Health Service, past Chairman of the Woy Woy Peninsula Catholic Parish Council, former Director of Loreto Normanhurst, former Chairman of the Central Coast Local Health District and a former Director of SCG Cricket.

Currently, Paul is a Director of Bluewave Living Aged Care Facility, Deputy Chairman of Employment and Training Australia Limited and honorary solicitor to a number of local sporting and social clubs. Paul is an active member of the business community and a director of a number of private investment companies.

In 2015, Paul was named Gosford Council’s Citizen of the Year for his dedication and passionate advocacy to ensure the Central Coast community has the best possible public health services.

Paul joined Tonkin Drysdale Partners in 1991 after a 5 years association with Herbert Smith & W. B. Phillips in Sydney. Paul was admitted to the partnership in 1992 on the same day as retirement of his father, the late Philip Tonkin who founded our firm in 1958.

Paul and his wife Anne-Maree have four adult children and his time away from the office is usually spent with his family enjoying a variety of sporting interests.

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.

Dominic is a third-generation partner at Tonkin Drysdale Partners. He leads our Civil Litigation team and is sought after to act in wills and estate disputes.

Dominic also has significant experience in Employment Law, Commercial Law, Personal Injury Law, Environment and Planning Law, and other civil disputes. Dominic is well regarded for estate planning, and residential and commercial conveyancing services.

Dominic conducts matters in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Federal Court, District Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court, Fair Work Commission, Personal Injury Commission, Land and Environment Court, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Local Court.

Dominic’s grandfather Philip founded the firm in 1958 and his father Paul is a current Partner.

Dominic is a Director of SCG Cricket and honorary solicitor to a number of local sporting and registered clubs.

Away from the office, Dominic enjoys time with his wife Megan and their young family at the Coast’s great beaches, cafes and restaurants, or keenly supporting one of his many sporting interests. Dominic is a member of the Australian Lawyers Cricket Council and represented the successful Australian team at the 2019 Lawyers Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

One of the most experienced litigators on the Central Coast, Darrell Pannowitz has been with Tonkin Drysdale Partners since 1988.

With 32 years’ experience as a solicitor and over 47 years’ experience in NSW Courts, Darrell provided expert advice and representation in all Federal and State Courts and Tribunals. He has particular expertise in wills and estates disputes and personal injury. Darrell has also assisted clients with estate planning, residential and commercial conveyancing, and commercial transactions.

In 2015, Darrell was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Umina. In 2017 he was honoured with the prestigious Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President’s Award.

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.

James is a part of Tonkin Drysdale Partners’ Commercial Law and Property and Conveyancing Law teams.

James brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, with previous experience in mid-tier law firms in Newcastle and Sydney. During his time at those firms, James developed a strong ability to provide his clients with proactive, practical and outcome-driven legal advice to assist his clients in achieving their objectives.

Outside of work, you’ll likely find James hiking in one of the many national parks that surround the Central Coast.

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.

After a career as a neuroscientist, Aaron retrained as a lawyer and specialises in Commercial Law and Wills and Estates.

Aaron regularly appears and conducts matters in the Supreme Court, Local Court and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in contested commercial and estate disputes and guardianship matters.

Aaron brings a wealth of experience in evaluating and solving complex problems, and considerable commercial skills having served on a number of boards including as Director of Member Services for Surf Lifesaving Central Coast, and the independent University of Sydney Ethics Board.

Aaron is respected as a community leader, strong advocate for people with disabilities and youth, and is a previous recipient of the Gosford City Council Australia Day Volunteer of the Year Award for his work in these areas.

Outside the office, Aaron and his wife enjoy spending time with their two daughters, competing in IRONMAN triathlon, and surf life saving.

Joining the firm in 2023, Kurtis is part of our Commercial, Employment and Personal Injury Law and Civil Litigation teams at Tonkin Drysdale Partners and brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the firm.

Kurtis has previously gained experience in litigious and non-litigious matters in commercial, insolvency and employment law. Prior to commencing his legal studies, Kurtis moved to London at the age of 19. During this time and upon settling back in Australia, Kurtis obtained experience in a range of industries prior to commencing his legal career, including construction and hospitality. Kurtis believes this makes him approachable whilst providing informed and calculated advice to clients.

Outside of work, you will find Kurtis playing golf on one of the Coast’s many courses, watching cricket in the summer months and following the Newcastle Knights in the winter months.

Tamika is an Estates and Property Law solicitor, working across our Wills & Estates and Conveyancing teams.

Originally joining Tonkin Drysdale Partners in January 2023, initially as an Estates Paralegal while completing her practical legal training, Tamika was admitted as a solicitor by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2023. She brings a wealth of experience in conveyancing, having been a Licensed Conveyancer since 2017. Prior to joining TDP, Tamika has worked for almost a decade in a number of small firms across the Central Coast and Hunter regions. Tamika is passionate about helping clients with their conveyancing and estate administration needs, providing her clients with the highest level of service.

In her spare time, Tamika enjoys spending time with her family, is an avid reader, and an active member of her netball club, particularly assisting with her daughter’s team.

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.