Kristiina joined chambers in January 2015 following successful completion of pupillage with Six Pump Court.
She has a mixed common law practice with particular expertise in criminal litigation, regulatory crime and family law proceedings.
She is described by her peers as “a lawyer of integrity who constantly reaches for and achieves the highest standard.”
Kristiina also has a specialist interest in forensic DNA and is developing a niche practice as a lawyer with expertise in DNA evidence and expert witness testimony.
She is a member of the ‘Euroforgen Network of Excellence’, a European Commission Security Council funded research project concerning the legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks for emerging uses of forensic DNA evidence.
She is a professional member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and is on occasion invited by the society to give lectures on courtroom procedure and expert testimony.
She is a visiting lecturer at Kings College, London and teaches the undergraduate BSc module in forensic genetics - ‘Introduction to the English legal system and ethical issues of the use of forensic bio-information’ and the postgraduate MSc module in forensic science – ‘Expert testimony in court’.
Criminal litigation and regulatory crime
Kristiina has substantial expertise in serious and complex criminal and regulatory litigation despite her recent call date, due to her previous practice as a solicitor in a niche white collar West End practice.
She regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ courts where she is instructed by prosecuting authorities and defendants alike. She has defended in cases involving sexual offences, fraud and dishonesty offences, serious violence, drug-related offences, public order and road traffic offences. She is instructed by prosecuting authorities such as the Metropolitan Police and local authorities and has particular expertise in ‘behaviour protection orders’ including Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, Domestic Violence Prevention Orders and Football Banning Orders.
Kristiina is a dedicated advocate who is committed to providing all clients with the highest standard of legal representation. She is meticulous and thorough in her preparation and advice and she has a persuasive and tenacious style of advocacy that is highly effective.
Family law and children proceedings
Kristiina is rapidly building a successful family law practice incorporating matrimonial and private and public law children act proceedings.
She is instructed in private law children act proceedings and has represented clients in complex fact-finding hearings with considerable success.
Kristiina has represented applicants and respondents in injunction proceedings pursuant to Part IV Family Law Act 1996.
During pupillage, Kristiina assisted and observed senior members of chambers in all aspects of public law children act proceedings up to and including final contested hearings. A notable example includes the reported case of J and E (Children – Brussels II Revised – Article 15) [2014] EWFC 45 concerning proceedings for care and placement orders in which the mother applied successfully for an Article 15 transfer of proceedings to Hungary. The order is now the subject of challenge by the Local Authority and Children’s Guardian in the Court of Appeal.
Kristiina accepts instructions in financial relief proceedings, including applications for spousal maintenance, lump sum and property transfer orders, concealment of assets and injunctive relief remedies.
Publications
“Keeping up with PACE 1984“, Lexis PSL, Nov 2015. Click here for full text. This article was first published on Lexis®PSL on 20 November 2015.
“Case Preview: R (Wang Yam) v Central Criminal Court & Anor“, UK Supreme Court Blog, Nov 2015. Click here for full-text.
“Retaining DNA: Kristiina Reed on the recent decision in Gaughran and retention of sensitive data“, Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Vol 179, July 2015. Click here for full-text of the article.
“Case Preview: R v Harvey“, UK Supreme Court Blog, July 2015. Click here for full-text.
“Radical Changes in DNA Analysis”, Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Vol. 178 Nos. 46 & 47, November 2014 (also published in the Criminal Bar Quarterly, Winter 2014, Issue 4)
“Children of Prisoners: ‘Orphans of Justice’?”, Family Law Journal, pp 69-74, January 2014
Memberships
Professional Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences
Legal Action Group
Howard Legal for Penal Reform
Education
LLM with Merit (City University)
BA Hons. 1st Class (University of Warwick)
Latest news
Children of Prisoners: Orphans of Justice?
Kristiina Reed’s article “Children of prisoners: ‘orphans of justice’?" is referenced in a recent article on Halsbury's Law Exchange entitled "The children of parents...
Forensic DNA analysis in light of new technology and security needs
Kristiina Reed is to speak at an international conference in Venice on the legal and regulatory frameworks for the forensic use of DNA technology...
Keeping up with the PACE 1984
In a recent article for Lexis PSL, Kristiina Reed examines the recent revisions to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) and...
Case Preview: R (Wang Yam) v Central Criminal Court & Anor
In this article for the UKSC blog, Kristiina Reed previews the case of Regina (Wang Yam) v the Central Criminal Court and her Majesty’s...
Kristiina Reed to speak at the International Society of Forensic Genetics Congress
Kristiina Reed is to present a lecture entitled ‘Forensic DNA: Legal and Regulatory Landscapes’ during the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Forensic Genetics...
Treatment of VAT in Confiscation Proceedings
In this article for the UKSC blog, Kristiina Reed reviews the case of R v Harvey, currently awaiting judgment in the Supreme Court. Her...
Retaining DNA and the Supreme Court case of Gaughran
In the lead article of this week’s Criminal Law & Justice Weekly, Kristiina Reed discusses the Supreme Court decision in Gaughran (Gaughran (Appellant) v...
Family Drug and Alcohol Courts to be extended across the South East
In an article published on our new Family Law Resources page, Kristiina Reed writes on the new Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) which...
Kristiina Reed to speak at Forensics Europe Expo 2015
Kristiina Reed is invited to give a lecture at the forthcoming Forensics Europe Expo 2015 Conference. Her lecture is entitled ‘The Expert Witness in...
Kristiina Reed joins Six Pump Court
Kristiina Reed joins Six Pump Court following successful completion of pupillage in Chambers. Kristiina has a mixed common law practice with particular expertise in...