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, Deputy Chairman and Director of Central Coast Area Health Service, past Chairman of the Woy Woy Peninsula Catholic Parish Council and former Director of Loreto Normanhurst.

Currently, Paul is Chairman of Central Coast Local Health District, a Director of Bluewave Living Aged Care Facility, Deputy Chairman of Employment and Training Australia Limited, a Director of SCG Cricket 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 the head of our Family Law Team, the largest family law practice on the Central Coast. Lee 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 almost exclusively in litigation and court advocacy. He also has broad experience in all aspects of litigation including criminal, 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 and a nationally accredited mediator.

Paul has been admitted as a solicitor for over 20 years and practiced 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 the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Umina Beach and a past vice chairman of the Central Coast Small Business Networking Group. He is an active member of the Star of the Sea Catholic Church and a member of the P&F Executive at Star of the Sea Primary School.

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 provides expert, experienced advice and representation in all Federal and State Courts and Tribunals. He has particular expertise in will/estate disputes and personal injury.

Darrell also assists 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.

Darrell lives with his wife Sharon at East Gosford. He is passionate about care for our elders and is an Honorary Director of Peninsula Village at Umina Beach, President of the Umina Beach Men’s Shed, and honorary solicitor to a number of clubs and charities on the Central Coast.

Sophie is an experienced solicitor in the Family Law and Commercial Law teams at Tonkin Drysdale Partners.

Admitted in 2012, Sophie spent her first seven years as a solicitor with a leading firm in Tamworth working across a range of areas including family law, property transactions and estate planning.

She continues to be sought after by members of the greater Tamworth community to act in their legal matters. Sophie has particular expertise in rural family law disputes involving large land holdings, farms and agricultural businesses.

Sophie develops an instant rapport with her clients, and is an excellent communicator who provides clear and direct advice.

Her easy manner may come from having worked as an Occupational Therapist for more than a decade prior to changing careers and completing her graduate law degree at The University of Sydney.

Sophie has a long and proud connection with the local community having grown up on the Peninsula and completing her Higher School Certificate at Gosford High School.

In her spare time, Sophie enjoys keeping active and travelling.

Dominic is a third-generation solicitor at Tonkin Drysdale Partners and has experience in a wide range of practice areas.

Dominic is well regarded for his ability to provide clear, practical advice and excellent support to clients consistent with their objectives.

Dominic acts in matters involving Estate Disputes, Employment Law, Commercial Law, Personal Injury Law, Environment and Planning Law, and other Civil Disputes. Dominic also undertakes Estate Planning, and Residential and Commercial Conveyancing services for his clients.

Dominic conducts matters in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Federal Court, District Court, Federal Circuit Court, Fair Work Commission, Workers Compensation 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.

Away from the office, Dominic enjoys time with his partner Megan and their friends 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.

Nick is an instrumental member of the Criminal and Family Law teams at Tonkin Drysdale Partners.

Nick is an experienced and determined advocate, regularly appearing before the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court.

Nick has developed a broad practice in the criminal jurisdiction, with experience ranging from serious criminal matters such as sexual offences, drug offences and firearms offences, to summary matters in the Local Court.

Nick is committed to providing his clients with clear, straight-forward advice and is dedicated in ensuring his client’s interests are protected and defended to the highest standard.

Nick originally hails from Nelson Bay, however for the past five years has called the Central Coast home. In his spare time, Nick spends his time with his young family, at one of the Coast’s many beautiful beaches or donning the famous maroon and gold of the Terrigal Matcham Bellbirds in the Central Coast Cricket Competition.

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