This month we celebrate the contribution of Michael Jackson who has been practising law in the Waikato and at Tompkins Wake for 40 years. For many years Michael was our Chairman of Partners.

Michael has a broad general knowledge of the law and in an increasingly specialised world regards himself as old fashioned for being a generalist.  It is his view that the practice of law increasingly requires in-depth specialist knowledge if the best possible service is to be provided to clients.  He acknowledges and is grateful for the opportunities that Tompkins Wake and the Waikato have given for a long and interesting career dealing with clients whom he respects and who in many cases, have become friends.

A staunch advocate for the Waikato and Hamilton in particular, Michael is enthusiastic about the ongoing opportunities the region presents, particularly in agriculture and business. He maintains the benefits of the region are largely a well kept secret and that we should express our pride in the region’s ongoing development and achievements.

Michael has seen significant changes in practice of the law over the course of his career and is proud to have been part of a firm often at the forefront of those changes.  One of the most significant of those changes is the recent decision by Tompkins Wake to articulate and implement its vision of being a nationally recognised firm operating from Hamilton and the adoption of a more professional and fulltime management structure.

Michael retires from Tompkins Wake at the end of October and, increasingly, his time will be spent introducing his clients to the wider Tompkins Wake team. We congratulate him on his years with us, and wish him all the very best as he transitions to retirement.