Mark Lowndes

Background

About Mark Lowndes

For me, it is all about people, relationships and trust. I have experience as a business founder, a senior corporate/commercial lawyer, a director, advisory board member, trustee and trusted advisor. I've had leadership roles in business, international organisations and boards, and represented governments. With honours law and commerce degrees, I had a great start in law at Simpson Grierson, then an 18 month secondment to BP Oil in Wellington which provided me with invaluable commercial and corporate learnings. By then I had founded a few businesses including Auckland's then largest secondary school supplementary education business, and had started my property investment portfolio. At 26, I founded NZ's first 'boutique' corporate/commercial law firm, now called Lowndes Jordan. We were early adoptors of technology in law such as an internal email system in 1988. The firm is NZ's first ISO certified law firm. My legal experience includes Corporate Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions, Technology & Telecommunications, International Investment, Governance and Business Restructuring & Insolvency. In 1995 I sold out of Lowndes Jordan and spent a few years in the commercial world, founding some businesses and consulting in the telecommunications industry. In 1997 I founded the law firm Lowndes with an innovative corporate structure and partner remuneration model which attracted senior partners from major firms with industry leading specialist skills. It was the first NZ law firm to be carbon zero, highlighting the need for NZ business to focus on the business imperatives of climate change. The firm was ranked by the major international law firm directories as a leading firm (top 12 or so) in eight areas of law, and won numerous awards at the NZ Law Awards. I built a large international practice. I have held various leadership roles in Multilaw, one of the top 5 global law firm networks. As Chair of Multilaw I led sweeping reforms to the network, including its communications, leadership structure, finances, governance and staffing. I have represented other international networks in NZ. In 2020 I merged my practice with top 10 law firm Tompkins Wake. I have participated in many business sales and acquisitions including as Advisory Board Chair focussed on grooming a business for successful sale. I have led a long-term investment programme for my family’s investment vehicle building a strong balance sheet with diverse NZ and international investments.