Our People
Our Team’s on Your Team.
Our clients are used to being greeted by someone who knows them and looks after all of their interests when they come to our office.
Gilding Baker Law incorporates the firm of John Gilding & Associates, a firm of 20-years standing, built up by John and synonymous with his own style of honesty, integrity and forth-right advice. Dan and Tangiwai Baker formed Gilding Baker Law and bring their own experience and personality, while continuing to honour the legacy that John created.
Dan Baker
(MA(Hons); LLB)
Director
Dan has a broad and deep understanding of the law, and a focus on commercial solutions. He began his legal career in Hamilton working at firm that specialised in local government law, then moved to Wellington to a boutique corporate firm. An OE beckoned and after moving to the UK Dan worked at a specialist insolvency firm. He then became in-house legal counsel for the infamous Alan Bond, honing skills in joint ventures, capital raising and getting the deal across the line. Dan then worked in a similar role for Vuna Capital, working on natural resources deals across the globe. After a few cold London winters, Dan resettled in the winterless North in 2014 and joined the Northland firm WRMK Lawyers. At WRMK he turned a new leaf in the law as a regional commercial and property specialist. Dan is also a wanna-be farmer on 30 hectares in the valleys of Parua Bay, farming Hereford cows and East Friesian sheep. Dan is an Accredited Specialist member of the Property Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society.
Tangiwai Baker
(Tuwharetoa, Te Rarawa/Ngati Kuri) (MSc (Distinction); LLB)
Director
Tangiwai is focused on looking after people and getting to the point with clear advice. She began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and worked for the New Zealand High Commission in London. Settling in the UK, she first worked in public affairs at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), before being invited to join its sponsoring government department, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She and Dan then started their family. Time with the famous and fabulous Ngati Ranana, London Maori Club, and a Masters at the London School of Economics rounded out this time. After returning to New Zealand, Tangiwai began practising commercial law at MWIS Lawyers in 2015 and joined the Parua Bay School Board of Trustees and later the board of Alzheimers’ Northland. From 2020-2023 Tangiwai was a part time Disputes Tribunal Referee in the Whangarei District Court. In the 2025 local government elections, Tangiwai was elected as the Whangarei District Councillor for the Whangarei Heads Ward.
Kim Thomson
Registered Legal Executive
Kim joined John Gilding in the practice in 2004 and never left! She is highly experienced in residential, rural and commercial property sales and purchases, and leasing and subdivisions. Kim is originally from Waipu, now living in Whakapara. All her family live locally. Kim enjoys scrapbooking, going to the beach and adventures with her husband and grandchildren.
Je’anne Nelson
Registered Legal Executive
Je’anne joined the firm at the start of 2022 as a receptionist and transitioned to becoming a legal secretary. She then qualified as a Registered Legal Executive in 2025 and assists both Dan and Tangiwai with residential conveyancing and estate matters. She is also a committee member of the Legal Executive New Zealand Northland Branch. Je’anne has an interest in trust accounting, loves learning about technology, enjoys spending time with her pets and is an avid trading card game collector and player. On Wednesday nights, she can usually be found at her local game store competing in her favourite TCG.
Ryley Alach
Legal Secretary
Ryley is born and bred in Whangarei and joined the team at the end of 2022 as our receptionist before moving into a legal secretary role in 2025. Ryley has an eye for graphic design and applies this to formatting documents, and is our music maestro. Outside of work, Ryley enjoys reading and spending quality time with family and friends.