Legal profession loses one of its ‘brightest lights’

Respected Auckland barrister and much-loved colleague, 37-year-old Jack Oliver-Hood (Ngāti Whātua, Pākehā) passed away on 19 January 2026.

Oliver-Hood studied at the University of Auckland, finishing his Bachelor of Laws in 2012. He was one of the Law School’s top scholars - winning the Faculty of Law Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts prize for best published article in the Auckland University Law Review and the Stout Shield and Greg Everard mooting competitions.

The talented scholar went on to clerk for the Auckland High Court working for the Hon Justices Cooper, Faire, Asher and then Chief High Court Judge the Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann GNZM. He followed up with junior barrister roles in Shortland and Bankside Chambers.

Oliver-Hood returned to Auckland Law School in 2017 to lecture in evidence law with Nina Khouri. Along with Professor Scott Optican and other writers, he also became part of the team that co-authored the 2018 edition of Mahoney on Evidence. He reprised that role for the book’s latest (2024) edition — together with Professor Optican, other authors and senior Auckland Law School lecturer Alexandra Allen-Franks. He also published articles in the NZ Law Review, NZ Law Journal and IP Forum.

In 2019-2020 Oliver-Hood completed an LLM at Columbia Law School in the US, graduating in the top two percent of his class as a James Kent Scholar.

Upon his return to New Zealand, he took up practice as a barrister sole and likewise lectured in evidence law at AUT Law School.

Together with Professor Optican, he was a regular presenter in evidence law for the Law Association and recently completed a masterclass in evidence law for the Legal Research Foundation. Oliver-Hood also presented at the Institute of Judicial Studies and for the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Optican, who taught Oliver-Hood and later worked alongside him, said he was an excellent student, a great lawyer and a dear friend.

I had amazing respect for him as a working practitioner, Optican told the Herald.

"I have absolutely no doubt that he would have had an absolutely superb career at the bar, and who knows where else he would have gone.

“The legal profession has lost one of its brightest lights and someone who was going to be a shining star in the future.”

Alexandra Allen-Franks was also a close friend and colleague. She worked with Oliver-Hood both at the High Court and for Andrew Brown, KC of Bankside Chambers.

Allen-Franks said his death, which tragically happened over the summer holidays at Hāhei Beach, was a huge loss to the profession and all his loved ones. She said Oliver-Hood was incredibly bright and kind and someone who would have continued to make an immensely positive impact on the profession.

“He was a really talented barrister and a very special person. He was funny and kind and dedicated to his family and friends.”

Oliver-Hood practised in a wide variety of areas including commercial litigation, intellectual property, employment law, public and election law and criminal appeals.

Professional highlights included acting for the LEGO Group at trial and on appeal in an IP dispute with Zuru NZ Ltd, a successful and first (2024) appearance in the Supreme Court in a copyright case led by Andrew Brown KC and Jason Wach, and representing Te Pāti Māori in constitutional and legal disputes.

Oliver-Hood’s criminal work included acting for Gail Maney (led by Julie-Anne Kincade KC), who was wrongly imprisoned for 16 years, and successfully obtaining an acquittal for her after demonstrating a miscarriage of justice.

He also acted for political protestors charged with Crimes Act offences in the District Court and as part of the appellate team representing convicted murderer Mark Lundy (in a high-profile Court of Appeal case that helped shape current law related to the admission of novel scientific evidence in criminal trials).

Auckland Law School extends its condolences to Jack Oliver-Hood’s partner, family, colleagues, students and friends. He will be greatly missed.