Sir Mark Andrew O'Regan (born 1953) is a New Zealand lawyer and jurist. He was the President of the
Court of Appeal of New Zealand
The Court of Appeal of New Zealand is the principal intermediate appellate court of New Zealand. It is also the final appellate court for a number of matters. In practice, most appeals are resolved at this intermediate appellate level, rather t ...
until his elevation to the
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand ( mi, Te Kōti Mana Nui, lit=Court of Great Mana) is the highest court and the court of last resort of New Zealand. It formally came into being on 1 January 2004 and sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It re ...
in 2014.
Biography
Educated at
St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, he graduated from
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand.
The university is well know ...
.
He was admitted as a
barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
and solicitor of the High Court in 1977 and became a partner with the law firm
Chapman Tripp in 1984. As a lawyer, he was known particularly for his expertise in relation to commercial law.
He co-authored the New Zealand Law Commission paper which led to the eventual adoption of a
register for personal property securities in New Zealand.
He was appointed to the High Court in 2001 and to the Court of Appeal in January 2004.
He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2014.
In the
2013 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2013 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Hon ...
, O'Regan was appointed a
Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...
for services to the judiciary.
References
1953 births
Living people
20th-century New Zealand lawyers
Victoria University of Wellington alumni
Court of Appeal of New Zealand judges
High Court of New Zealand judges
People educated at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
Place of birth missing (living people)
Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
21st-century New Zealand judges
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