Fraser Sinclair is a Director at Checketts McKay Law and is one of Central Otago’s most experienced lawyers advising on property development, subdivisions and commercial property transactions.

Fraser has more than 20 years’ experience advising developers, landowners, investors and businesses on complex property and commercial matters. He is particularly well known for his work on land development projects across Central Otago and has overseen the legal delivery of more than 550 subdivision lots in recent years.

Fraser works closely with clients from the earliest stages of development projects through to completion. His work commonly involves site acquisition, development structuring, easements and infrastructure arrangements, subdivision delivery, staged title releases and LINZ registration processes. He regularly works alongside developers, planners, surveyors and other project professionals to ensure projects are structured effectively and delivered smoothly.

Alongside development work, Fraser advises on a wide range of commercial and property matters, including business sales and acquisitions, commercial property transactions, development joint ventures, corporate structuring, financing, and commercial leasing. His clients include developers, agribusiness operators, vineyard owners, construction businesses and commercial property investors.

Fraser also advises rural landowners and agribusiness clients where rural land transactions intersect with subdivision, development or irrigation infrastructure, including easements and irrigation scheme arrangements.

Fraser is admitted as a lawyer in New Zealand and in England and Wales (non-practising). Before returning to New Zealand in 2017, he spent 12 years practising in the United Kingdom, including eight years as Managing Partner of a specialist commercial property and finance law firm advising banks and financial institutions on commercial real estate finance and development lending.

Representative Experience

Fraser’s recent experience includes advising on:

• Subdivision developments delivering more than 550 titled lots across Central Otago, including a large subdivision of a vineyard
• Large residential and mixed-use land developments, including project structuring, funding, easements and covenants, and staged title delivery
• Development joint ventures and infrastructure arrangements for subdivision projects
• Commercial property acquisitions and investment property transactions
• Business acquisitions across the wine, construction, hospitality, leisure, retail and services sectors
• Rural subdivisions and irrigation scheme arrangements for landowners and agribusiness clients
• Large farm and high-country station sales and acquisitions
• Commercial and rural leasing across viticulture, farming, industrial and hospitality sectors

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