Tonia is a dual qualified trade mark and intellectual property specialist, with over 20 years of domestic and international experience advising clients in this area. Tonia also has experience in entertainment and IT practice, including drafting, reviewing and advising on a wide range of agreements for publishing companies, recording artists, song writers, authors and film production companies. Tonia also offers specialist IP expertise in indigenous rights, privacy, data protection and sovereignty as well as commercial contracts.

Outside of work Tonia like to potter in the garden, particularly doing landscape gardening and renovations. She also enjoys running, tramping and beach adventures, along with spending time with her boys Ture and Noa and pet pug Olive.

Tonia joined James & Wells in October 2022 and has gained significant experience working in a number of sectors. She offers a unique perspective, given her experience working in London (UK) with one of Europe’s leading law firms and with some of the largest US media technology companies such as Apple Corp, Warner Bros. and Google across their UK and European matters.

Tonia spent her formative years growing up in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and is passionate about supporting Pasifika and Māori entrepreneurs in her work. She is an advocate of te reo Māori and tikanga and assists a number of Māori Boards in a pro-bono capacity, as well as acting as Co-Chair on the Pacific Island Community Tauranga Trust (PICTT) and supporting her esteemed Trustees at Te Murumāra Foundation (Te Aka Māori Dictionary).