Fiona Guy Kidd KC

In 2016 Fiona commenced practice as a Barrister Sole after 24 years’ experience working in both civil and criminal litigation. Her broad experience includes a six-month secondment to Sydney, Australia where she worked as a Crown Prosecutor undertaking criminal trials and appeals. Fiona was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2018 (known as a King’s Counsel since 2022).

Since 2011 she has specialised as a criminal defence lawyer, first as a partner in law firm AWS Legal and then at the bar. She represents individuals facing a wide range of charges and investigations including murder, serious sexual offending, drugs, violence and driving offences. She has represented companies, directors and employees in regulatory prosecutions under the Resource Management Act and for alleged breaches of the Animal Welfare Act. She also has experience acting in professional disciplinary proceedings before Coroner’s Courts and Commisions of Inquiry.

An experienced appellate advocate, Fiona has obtained positive results for clients on appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal. She has appeared on over 100 appeals in the Court of Appeal for both the Crown and Defence. She has also appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court.

Fiona is actively involved in the legal profession at a local and national level. She is currently President of the Criminal Bar Association of New Zealand and is a long-serving member of the New Zealand Law Society Criminal Law Committee.

Fiona works hard for her clients providing thorough, frank advice with compassion and realism.

Based in Invercargill, Fiona is an associate member of Bridgeside Chambers. She regularly appears in Courts throughout the lower South Island and on appeals in the Court of Appeal from throughout the country.