People
Who we are
Zoe Reid, BA LLB
Principal
I am a barrister and solicitor with over 17 years of legal experience.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Auckland in 2003, followed by a Bachelor of Laws in 2006.
My legal career began at the corporate law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts. However, by 2009, I felt drawn to a more client-focused practice and joined my father, Chris Reid, in his well-established criminal law firm. Working alongside him was an invaluable opportunity to learn from his extensive experience.
In 2011, I became the principal of the practice, with Chris continuing in a part-time consultancy role.
Since 2009, I have dedicated my practice exclusively to drink driving and traffic law. As a specialist in this field, I have significant experience representing clients in the District Court and handling appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal. You can view examples of my successful results here.
Beyond my legal practice, I present seminars on drink driving and traffic law to fellow lawyers. I have been invited to speak at Auckland District Law Society* and Legalwise seminars and am instructed by other practitioners to provide written legal opinions or appear in Court on their behalf.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my 12-year-old daughter and our ever-growing collection of pets!
*Now known as the the Law Association.
Chris Reid, LLB
Consultant
Chris has over 40 years of experience in criminal and traffic law. He grew up close to his cousin, David Lange, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and followed in his footsteps by earning a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland in 1972. Chris began his legal career as a court lawyer from David Lange’s law office, setting the foundation for his distinguished career.
Throughout his years of practice, Chris has built a strong reputation in the District and High Courts of New Zealand, as well as in the Court of Appeal. For many years, he worked closely with Sir Peter Williams QC on a range of high-profile cases. One particularly notable case involved defending a police officer wrongly accused of rape and perverting the course of justice. The corrupt senior officer who had brought the charges declined to testify, unwilling to face cross-examination by the great Peter Williams QC. The defendant police officer was acquitted of all charges, while the senior officer responsible for the prosecution was later imprisoned.
Beyond his criminal law practice, Chris is widely recognised as an authority in drink driving and traffic law. He was a long-standing presenter at Law Society and LexisNexis seminars and has played a role in shaping key legal developments. One of his most significant cases, Attorney-General v Ōtāhuhu District Court and Brown {2001} 3 NZLR 740, was argued in the Court of Appeal alongside Grant Illingworth KC. The case led to important changes in drink driving law, ensuring all evidential breath-testing devices required certificates of compliance and giving motorists the right to request a blood test regardless of their breath test result - removing previous restrictions.
Chris now works part-time as a consultant for Zoe. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, fishing, and spending time with his granddaughter.