Jen Hanton

LLB, BA

Juno Lawyer

Auckland

Jen Hanton | Jennifer Hanton | Juno Legal | Lawyer

Capability

I have extensive and broad-ranging commercial experience, having practised in-house for more than 20 years both in New Zealand and London. I’m now onto my third engagement with AIA Insurance and am involved in complex claims cases, interpreting and applying policy wording, supporting the investments team, FMA and RBNZ compliance, privacy matters and general procurement and other commercial contract work.

While supporting Stuff (via Juno), I was the General Counsel involved in all aspects of the business including completing the MBO in 2020. I was part of the executive team and managed defamation related litigation and led compliance across the business particularly in the areas of privacy and cyber risk. As Senior Legal Counsel at Fonterra, I led the establishment of the global legal team’s first in-house legal portal designed to make legal services more accessible to the business. At Spark I was involved in the voluntary split of Telecom in 2011. As the first lawyer to be appointed to Vanco plc in London I was responsible for a broad range of legal (and non-legal) matters and was able to build the practice to 4 lawyers.

I enjoy in-house legal roles immensely because it involves working closely with the business to achieve successful, commercial outcomes. The broad range of issues and queries that arise means that no two days are the same. 

Juno Clients

Toll Holdings (NZ) Limited, Stuff Limited (twice), AIA Insurance (3 times), Vector, Serko

Before Juno

Fonterra | Senior Corporate Counsel  
Spark | Senior Counsel
Toll NZ | Legal Advisor
Reliance Globalcom Services Inc. | Head of Legal
Lloyds TSB Bank plc | Legal Adviser      
Buddle Findlay | Senior Solicitor
IRD | Solicitor  

Areas of expertise

  • Commercial contract drafting and negotiation
  • Privacy and data protection
  • IT/IP
  • Governance
  • Financial Services
  • Media
  • General risk management  

Governance/Community

I was on the Board of Trustees, Campbells Bay School for 9 years (3 years as Chair) from 2013- 2022, and I joined the SPELD NZ Board in November 2024.

  • Jen is an absolute superstar and has taken on the role of general counsel with enormous ease, despite media being a new industry to her. Nothing fazes her, whether it be a tricky media issue or, as happened a few weeks into her tenure, a change of ownership for our business.

    She has become an integral part of our executive leadership team, respected and trusted by the whole executive as well as the wider business, and has been a valued contributor to our overall strategic work and planning. Besides her professional abilities, she is a fantastic colleague to work alongside and we have been very fortunate to have her in our business.

    Sinead Boucher

    Chief Executive Officer, Stuff

  • Jen [gave a] thorough and thoughtful handover. She has played such a key role in establishing the "new Stuff" since the MBO, and I know she is very loved by the business. I can also see the stellar work she has done in re-shaping our legal function to make it fit for purpose for the journey ahead. And of course she is a whip-smart lawyer and a brilliant, funny and kind colleague. Whoever gets her next will be very lucky. 

    Genevieve O'Halloran

    Former General Counsel, Stuff

  • Engaging Juno and bringing Jen into the team has been a real success. Lockdown didn't stop Jen integrating into our team and getting across the work. She is a very experienced and capable lawyer. Despite not having a financial services or insurance sector background Jen has picked up the work with ease and is willing to give anything a go.

    Jackie Waddams

    Head of Legal, AIA Insurance

  • We’ve really enjoyed having Jen on the team and have appreciated her help. She has been great at getting on with the work and putting her hand up to assist whenever possible. We can highly recommend her.

    Harriet Blackburn

    General Counsel, Vector

  • Jen quickly absorbed the workflow and prioritised projects and tasks accordingly.
    She was always available, made pragmatic recommendations and seamlessly fitted into the team.

    Laura Maxwell

    CEO, Stuff

Jen Hanton supports