Partner

Jason Wach

Areas of Expertise

Patents, Trade Marks, Enforcement & Dispute Resolution, Copyright, Licensing & Commercialisation, Design Registrations, Anti-counterfeiting, Trade Secrets & Non-Disclosure, Domain Names, Fair Trade
Qualifications & Memberships
  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
  • Member - Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)
  • Contributor - New Zealand Intellectual Property Journal
  • Recommended Individual - WTR 1000 2024

About Jason

Jason is an experienced intellectual property litigator. He has an extensive background in acting for local and international businesses and assisting them with the enforcement of intellectual property rights. He has appeared as counsel and assisted senior counsel in all levels of courts and tribunals in New Zealand including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, IPONZ tribunals and the Copyright Tribunal.

His areas of practice include patent infringement and opposition, trade mark infringement and opposition, copyright infringement, copyright licensing, counterfeiting, trade secrets and restraints of trade, misleading and deceptive conduct, domain name disputes, mediation, and general commercial disputes.

Jason is passionate about pursuing his clients’ interests and is comfortable with technical subject matter.

Jason also advises on legislative compliance, and general commercial matters, including branding, intellectual property licensing, and manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements. He has extensive experience in securing the registration of trade marks both within New Zealand and in numerous international jurisdictions.

He is a regular contributor to the peer reviewed New Zealand Intellectual Property Journal (NZIPJ).

In 2021 Jason was appointed to the IP Law Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.

Outside of work Jason enjoys spending time with his friends and family, listening to good music, eating great food, and playing the guitar.

Experience

Jason commenced practice as a litigator in November 2007. He joined James & Wells in mid-2016 after having worked for the previous five years as a barrister employed by one of New Zealand’s leading QC’s in the field of intellectual property. He has also held roles in the litigation teams of two leading Auckland law firms.

Jason has been recognised as an ‘IP Rising Star’ in 2023 by Managing Intellectual Property.