About
Specialist defence and appellate advocacy.
James Olsen is a barrister specialising in criminal defence, appeals, and rights-based litigation.
He acts in serious criminal matters, including sexual allegations, serious violence, drug offending, objectionable publications, and cases involving complex evidential and Bill of Rights issues. He appears regularly in the District Court and High Court for pre-trial applications, trials, and sentencing, and has substantial appellate experience in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.
James has argued conviction and sentence appeals before the Supreme Court of New Zealand and has appeared in numerous appeals before the Court of Appeal. His appellate work includes conviction appeals, sentence appeals, pre-trial appeals, bail appeals, and Solicitor-General appeals.
James accepts private instructions and provides services through Legal Aid. He is also regularly instructed by King’s Counsel and senior lawyers to assist in complex cases, particularly those involving novel or difficult legal issues.
James acts for clients throughout New Zealand. In the 2026 Doyle’s Guide of leading criminal lawyers, James was named as a recommended lawyer.
Standing and memberships
Recommended lawyer, 2026 Doyle’s Guide of leading criminal lawyers.
Leadership team, Te Matakahi | Defence Lawyers Association New Zealand.
Member, Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand.
Member, New Zealand Bar Association.
Counsel and referral context
James accepts private instructions and Legal Aid matters. He is also instructed by King’s Counsel and senior lawyers where complex criminal procedure, appellate, evidential, or Bill of Rights issues require detailed analysis.
Courts of appearance
His practice includes work in the District Court and High Court, and appellate appearances in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of New Zealand.
