Leading the team at Reids is Paul Reid. Paul has over 25 years experience of family law. For much of that time Paul has been on the Lawyer for Child panel and is a senior counsel in that field. Paul is also on the panel of lawyers who are able to accept appointments from the Central Authority under the Hague Convention and is on the IDCCR panel which means he can accept appointments under the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act.
In addition to those personal appointments Paul is also the lawyer/counsel for the Open Home Foundation of New Zealand within the Wider Wellington Region.
Paul has also been a Youth Advocate in the Youth Court for many years and has considerable experience of representing young people between ages of 14 and 17 in that jurisdiction.
Paul is extremely passionate about the rights of children and the importance of them having a voice that can be heard within the legal process – whether that be in the Family or Youth Courts.
Paul also has considerable experience in all relationship property matters and has always been motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients and believes that he has been successful in achieving that. As much as anything else, this includes providing his clients with realistic legal advice in terms of possible outcomes and associated legal costs and not simply telling them what they may wish to hear.
Paul is married (to the Practice Manager of Reids, Fiona) with three adult children; enjoys a rural lifestyle and keeping fit by swimming and walking their two dogs. Paul is an enthusiastic music lover and enjoys attending live concerts, sports, travelling and also enjoys nothing more than sharing a beer or a good red wine with friends and family.