Tim Anderson - Partner

About Tim Anderson

What stimulates me

I enjoy finding solutions to clients’ problems. I try to find creative ways to ensure they meet their objectives, and I love overcoming challenges.

I think of myself as someone who tries to analyse and consider future trends. When I first graduated in 1993 I read about the likely rise in importance of the Asian region. With no Asian experience and little understanding at that stage, I decided to get a taste of Asia so applied to go on a cultural exchange to Indonesia.

The most rewarding experience I’ve had at work

Being part of the team that successfully brought the first ever employment appeal in the Supreme Court. I think one of the reasons why we were successful is that we were thoroughly prepared. We even analysed the previous decisions of the judges sitting in our appeal to understand their views on employment issues and pre-empt the questions we thought they would ask.

My approach to working with my clients

I play with the end-game in mind. I find out the outcome my client is hoping to achieve, think about the options open to them and then work on the strategy that has the best chance of delivering that outcome - taking into account the cost/benefit to my client. I am aware that often emotions run high but work with the client to try to put these to one side and bring the focus back to the practical realities of the dispute.

I firmly believe that alternative dispute resolution will most often achieve the best net benefit to my client. This is because I try to bring the reality of the courtroom into the picture and undertake a risk analysis looking at a client’s chance of success and the costs involved.

An instance when I got a great result for a client

I really enjoy the adrenalin involved in obtaining urgent injunctions and other interim relief. On one occasion I successfully obtained an interim injunction on a big commercial dispute which resulted in a sizeable settlement of the whole dispute for our client within less than a week of commencing proceedings.

What I’ve done in the past

When I first graduated I went on a cultural exchange to Indonesia for 6 weeks where I started learning the language (I now speak fluent Indonesian). After a brief stint back in New Zealand I returned to Indonesia where I worked as an in-house adviser for a consulting company for five years. My role involved a mix of legal and project management work. I moved back to New Zealand following the Asian financial crash in 1998. Following six years re-establishing the litigation practice at a firm in Wanganui, I joined Gibson Sheat in 2004.

What I enjoy outside of work

I’ve got three kids who are 11, 9 and 7 so I’m pretty involved with their sporting and other activities. I umpire my daughters' netball team every Saturday. I enjoy DIY and gardening, both of which I find very relaxing. I follow most sports as time permits. I love snow skiing and it's now an activity the whole family can get into. I am also involved in a really good Church, which is an important part of my life.

If I wasn’t a lawyer I’d be…

In some sort of project management role in Asia – I love living and working there and, if I look at my best work, its on big files that need a lot of grunt work where I can focus and really get stuck in, which is a bit like project management. If that didn't work out I might just paint houses as I ran a paint contracting business at University to keep me afloat!

The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given

‘People don’t judge you on what you start. They judge you on what you finish’. Essentially people remember you for the results you get.