Jack Wass

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Jack has been in practice as a barrister sole since being admitted to the bar in 2009.

Jack has a wide civil litigation practice, including general commercial disputes, company law, environmental law, judicial review and arbitration. He regularly appears as sole and junior counsel in the High Court and has also appeared in the District Court, Environment Court and Court of Appeal. He has particular experience in insolvency matters (including bankruptcy and liquidation), private and public international law, and procedural matters (including discovery, injunctions, summary judgment and strike-out).

He is instructed directly by solicitors as well as being retained to assist senior barristers outside Stout Street Chambers. He is available to provide research and advice on all areas of law, and to appear on agency instructions in all courts.

Jack is also a Teaching Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington, where he has tutored since 2006.

Jack attended Victoria University of Wellington, graduating in 2008 with an LLB (Hons) and BA (in English Literature). While at University, he summer clerked at a national law firm. He was the Student Editor-in-Chief of the Victoria University of Wellington Law Review for two years, and has tutored a range of courses in the Law and Commerce faculties at Victoria.

  • Areas of Practice
    • Commercial litigation
    • International law
    • International arbitration
  • Academic Qualifications:
    • LLB (Hons) (First Class)
    • BA (major in English Literature; minor in Classical Studies)
    • Quentin-Baxter Prize in Public and International Law (for LLM Research Paper "The Meaning of 'Manifest Excess of Powers' in the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States")
    • Victoria University of Wellington Essay Prize in Classical Studies
  • Professional Career:
    • 2009 to present - Barrister
    • 2009 to present - Teaching Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington
    • 2009 - Clerk, Stout Street Chambers
    • 2007-2008 - Student Editor-in-Chief, Victoria University of Wellington Law Review
    • 2007–2008 - Summer Clerk, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
    • 2006-2008 - Tutor, Victoria University of Wellington
  • Selected recent appearances:
    • Junior counsel for the plaintiffs in Elvidge & Gifford v ASB Bank Ltd, contesting applications for summary judgment and strike-out in relation to a complex negligence claim against ASB Bank Ltd (High Court, decision pending)
    • Junior counsel for the decision-maker in Wood v Financial Markets Authority, an appeal against the FMA's decision to decline the appellant's application for approval as an Authorised Financial Adviser (District Court, decision pending)
    • Sole counsel for the mortgagee in TEA Custodians (Bluestone) Ltd v Barnett, a successful application for summary judgment and possession (High Court, 2011)
    • Junior counsel for the plaintiff in Bell v Victoria University of Wellington, a successful application for judicial review of a university's decision to uphold a finding of plagiarism (High Court, 2010)

Email : jack.wass@stoutstreet.co.nz
Direct Dial : +64 4 917 1087
Mobile : +64 21 034 2262
Postal: PO Box 117, Wellington