Just rewards | Fiona Guy Kidd admitted to the Inner Bar

Just rewards

Congratulations to Fiona Guy Kidd (1986) who was appointed to the rank of Queen’s Counsel by the Attorney General in November 2018.

In February this year, Fiona was called to the Inner Bar at a ceremony held in the High Court at Invercargill and presided over by then-Chief Justice of New Zealand, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias.

The rank of Queen’s Counsel was introduced into New Zealand in 1907. The overarching criterion for appointment is excellence as a barrister. It is a hardearned, lifetime rank held by fewer than one percent of New Zealand lawyers.

Fiona describes being made a QC as the highlight of her career to date, and a very special acknowledgement of a lot of hard work over the years. But that hard work is far from over.

“In being called to the Inner Bar, I made the undertaking to serve to the best of my knowledge and ability,” she says. “This is a weighty responsibility and it means I can’t slacken off!”

It was fitting that a fellow Dio Old Girl, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias – herself one of New Zealand’s first two female Queen’s Counsels – should preside over Fiona’s admission ceremony.

Fiona says Dame Sian has lived the Ut Serviamus motto and given so much of her time to the law. “She has been a supporter of those working in the area of criminal law, and she is brave – she was never afraid to express a different opinion to other judges. Having Dame Sian preside over the ceremony added a significant link to my childhood in Auckland.”

Two more Dio Old Girls, Emma Gibbs, barrister in Manukau, and Charlotte Findlay also attended the ceremony.

“Emma, Charlotte and I all went to the University at Otago, and have been friends through the years, so it was fabulous to have them with me at the ceremony,” says Fiona.

“I don’t think Dame Sian realised our shared Dio background until my Powerpoint presentation at the Bar Dinner that night when I put up a photo of myself, Emma, Charlotte and Debra O’Neil from the 1980s in Dio school uniform.”

Emma sat in the front of the court with the other lawyers, while in the jury box to witness the ceremony were members of Fiona’s family. They included her parents, Anne and Kerry Guy, along with her husband Hamish and sons Robert and Cameron.

Two Dio Old Girls, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias and Fiona Guy Kidd, have both achieved outstanding feats in the legal profession.

A powerful endorsement

In her address at Fiona’s Admission to the Inner Bar, Dame Sian explained that the rank of Queen’s Counsel is reserved for those who are upright, learned and brave.

L to R: Emma Gibbs, Fiona Guy Kidd and Charlotte Findlay. Fiona wears the special black silk gown of a QC, rather than the wool/cotton gown worn by a standard barrister and solicitor. The first time the gown is worn by the new QC is at the ceremony calling them to the Inner Bar, hence the term ‘taking the silk’.

“Those admitted to this tradition are our very best,” she said. “They are expected to demonstrate it in everything they do for as long as they practise law. This is not a prize. It is a responsibility.”

Dame Sian commended Fiona for her thorough preparation, solid grasp of legal principle, and skills as an advocate.

“You have a reputation for sound judgement and tenacity when it is needed. Your views are sought when questions of competence are raised about the conduct of legal proceedings by other counsel, matters requiring maturity and sensitive judgement. You are someone who is trusted by your colleagues and in whom the judges can feel confident.”

A varied career

Fiona specialises in criminal and regulatory law and undertakes criminal appeals from around the country. She practises from chambers in Invercargill and Christchurch and is the first Queen’s Counsel appointed in Invercargill.

Fiona was admitted to the bar in 1992 after graduating with First Class Honours in Law from the University of Otago. She joined the litigation department of Russell McVeagh and then took up a scholarship from the University of Virginia, where she completed a Masters of Law in 1995.

On her return to Auckland, Fiona worked with Sir David Williams on some difficult civil cases at the High Court and appellate level, including litigation arising out of the Equiticorp failure and the Wine Box Inquiry. She moved to Wellington and took up a position at Luke Cunningham Clere, the Crown Solicitor’s Office, appearing in a wide range of criminal trials and appeals to the Court of Appeal.

After four years, Fiona was lured to Crown Law where she progressed to become Criminal Team Leader, a practice widely considered to be the most exciting in New Zealand.

During her extensive appellate practice in the Court of Appeal, Fiona represented the Crown in appeals and also appeared as Crown counsel in many criminal trials in Nelson and Blenheim. She also acted for the Department of Corrections in appearances before the Parole Board.

Fiona’s work for the Crown saw her involved in a range of significant cases including civil proceedings, judicial review proceedings, habeas corpus applications and Bill of Rights matters.

She moved to Invercargill with her Southland-born husband in 2011, becoming a partner at AWS Legal. Moving to the other side of the legal playing field, Fiona defended those facing serious criminal charges, including murder and drug offending, and appeared before the Parole Board. She also undertook civil trust cases – making for an extremely varied and challenging workload.

Since 2016, Fiona has practised at the bar in Montrose Chambers in Invercargill. She has been appointed amicus curiae, a role that sees her assist the court by offering information, expertise and insight on cases.

In a special ceremony at the High Court in Invercargill, Fiona is admitted to the Inner Bar. Dio Old Girl and former Chief Justice of New Zealand, the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, seated centre, presides over the ceremony.

School days paved the way

For Fiona there is so much about her Diocesan education that has fed into and influenced her career.

“Dio instilled a very empowering belief that if you set your mind to it and worked hard, you could do anything,” she says. During her senior school years in the ’80s, Fiona loved debating, school productions, choir and speech and drama – she fondly remembers the late Elspeth Hitchings, her speech and drama teacher.

“All these things gave me the skills I use as a courtroom advocate. I also enjoyed geography all through school taught by Miss Bellamy and Mrs Johnson. I wasn’t great at French but I loved Mrs Cranfield’s French classes – she was fun, with a zest for life and for learning about and connecting with other people and cultures. Curiosity and empathy for others is important in the Law.”

Giving back

Putting the School motto, Ut Serviamus, into practice, Fiona has always been willing to share her knowledge. She has mentored and encouraged less experienced lawyers, particularly young women. For several years, Fiona helped organise the valuable litigation skills programme for Pacific Island lawyers for the Pacific Island Law Officers Network. She has been active in continuing education programmes for the Law Society.

Fiona is a long-term member of the New Zealand Law Society Litigation Skills programme, including as its director. Her standing in the profession has seen her sought after for various committees and she is currently vice-president of the Criminal Bar Association.