People
Who we are
Zoe Reid, BA LLB
Principal
I am a barrister and solicitor and have been practising law for over fifteen years.
I attended the University of Auckland - completing a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Sociology) in 2003 and a Bachelor of Laws in 2006.
I commenced my legal career at corporate law firm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts. However, by 2009, the pull to step out from behind a desk and engage more with members of the community led me to joining my father Chris Reid’s well established criminal law practice. I was delighted to get the opportunity to work alongside my dad and learn his trade!
In 2011, I became the principal of the practice and Chris has worked part-time as a consultant ever since.
Since 2009, I have focussed my practice solely on drink drive and traffic law. As a specialist drink drive and traffic lawyer, I have extensive experience appearing on such matters at the District Court. I have has also taken matters on appeal to the High Court and Court of Appeal. You can see examples of my successful results here.
I regularly present seminars on the topic of drink drive and traffic law to other law practitioners. I have been invited to speak at Auckland District Law Society and Legalswise seminars on traffic law.
I am also instructed by other practitioners to provide written legal advice and appear on their behalf as counsel at court.
When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my 11-year-old daughter and our ever growing collection of pets!
Chris Reid, LLB
Consultant
Chris has over 40 years’ experience in criminal and traffic law. Chris grew up close to his cousin, David Lange, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Chris followed David’s example and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland in 1972. Chris commenced his work as a court lawyer from David Lange’s law office.
Chris has an extensive and successful history at the District Courts and High Courts of New Zealand, as well as at the Court of Appeal. For many years, Chris worked closely with Sir Peter Williams QC. A memorable trial of theirs was for a defendant police officer who had been wrongly charged with rape and perversion of justice. The corrupt senior officer who brought the charges was too afraid of the great Peter Williams QC to get in the witness box. The defendant police officer was found not guilty of all charges and the senior officer, who brought the charges, eventually ended up in prison.
Aside from his work with Sir Peter, Chris is well recognised in the drink drive and traffic law field and was a long-standing presenter of Law Society and LexisNexis seminars on the topic. His most outstanding drink drive case was in the Court of Appeal with Grant Illingworth QC: Attorney-General v Ōtāhuhu District Court and Brown {2001} 3 NZLR 740. Following this case, all evidential breath testing devices were required to have certificates of compliance and, as a further safeguard, motorists were enabled to have a blood test whatever the breath test result; previously there had been restrictions on blood tests.
Chris currently works part-time as a consultant for Zoe. In his spare time, Chris enjoys travelling overseas, fishing and doting on his granddaughter.