Cromwell

Maxine Knowler

Director

Maxine is the firm’s resident Director at the Cromwell office.

After graduating in 1988, Maxine commenced practice in Invercargill, becoming a partner in 1993. In 2005 Maxine moved with her family to Cromwell where she has become deeply involved in the community, including serving 9 years on the Cromwell College Board of Trustees, 6 of those years as Chairperson.

Maxine joined Checketts McKay as a Director in 2013. She has extensive business and property law experience and is known for her pragmatic approach in complex situations. Maxine has a particular interest in investment property and trust transactions.

Maxine served for 25 years as a Tenancy Tribunal Adjudicator, retiring in June 2018. Having that inside knowledge of rental investment property is a real advantage for her clients.

Maxine’s recreational time is spent with family and friends enjoying the Central Otago environment.

Areas of practice:

• Residential and Commercial Property
• Business / Commercial Law
• Elder Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates
• Relationship Property
• Employment Law

Fraser Sinclair

Director

Fraser is an experienced property and commercial solicitor admitted in both New Zealand and in England and Wales (non -practising). After 12 years working in the United Kingdom, Fraser has returned with his young family to beautiful Central Otago.

In his last 8 years in the UK, Fraser was Managing Partner for a specialist law firm primarily advising leading commercial banks and financial institutions in connection with real estate lending activities. Fraser has extensive experience in handling property transactional work relating to commercial property (industrial, warehouses/distribution, development land, retail, hospitality, leisure, agricultural, viticultural and horticultural), residential investment property and residential property. He has been a panelist at the Property Investor and Homebuyer Show, the UK’s largest exhibition of UK property and has been a commentator for property finance industry publications.

Areas of practice:

• Commercial Property / Residential Investment Property and Residential Property
• Business / Commercial Law
• Rural and Agribusiness

Karleigh Hoera

Associate

Karleigh joined Checketts McKay Law 2017 and handles a variety of legal work, specialising in residential property transactions, estate, trust, and relationship property law at our Cromwell office. Karleigh appreciates the demands on clients and applies a pragmatic approach to legal issues with advice that is easy to understand. She became an Associate in 2021.

Karleigh has lived in Cromwell with her husband and children for the last 15 years. Karleigh is a trustee of the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust, and a board member on the Cromwell College board and enjoys utilising her legal skills in roles that give back to the community. Outside of work, Karleigh enjoys biking, hiking, playing sport and being actively involved in her children's many interests.

Carol Williams

Senior Legal Assistant

Maree Checketts

Legal Assistant

Brittany Leitch

Legal Assistant / Reception

Megan Pearson

Legal Assistant / Reception

Aaron Dykes

Senior Solicitor

Aaron is originally from central Southland and after graduating from Otago University he began his career in Alexandra before making the big shift through the gorge to Cromwell where he joined the Checketts McKay team in February 2021.

Aaron enjoys working in the Cromwell community as he can take on a diverse range of work and meet people from all walks of life. He is well equipped to advise on a variety of matters and in particular has experience dealing with property issues, financing, rural and commercial leases, estate planning, and is always there to support you when buying and selling property.

If he isn’t in the office you will usually find him somewhere between a golf course and a football field. He has maintained his roots in Alexandra playing football for the senior club and is also president of the junior club.