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Nigel is a partner in the Property & Finance, Business & Commercial and Trusts, Asset Protection & Estates sections. Nigel has wide experience in commercial and property matters, acting for a diverse range of business clients and property developers. He has an extensive involvement in commercial leasing and subdivision, including the Unit Titles Act, both multi-stored residential and commercial. Nigel has extensive experience in Trusts and acts as a Trustee for many substantial private and Charitable Trusts. Nigel also supervises the property and lending sections of our practice.

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Carol has over 10 years of experience in various areas of commercial and commercial property law. She was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court in 2008 and is also a certified AML/CFT compliance officer. She is experienced in dealing with land acquisitions, advising developers on large scale residential development, subdivisions, the associated project financing and overseeing and managing the presales of residential development projects through to settlement.

Carol regularly practices in the following areas: Commercial Transactions (including sale & purchase of businesses), Company Law, Corporate Structures, Statutory Compliance, Shareholders Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, Limited Partnership Agreements and Establishment, Franchising, Trademark Registration.

Maria joined Duthie Whyte in 2025, bringing extensive experience in the trusts and private client space. She has worked in the New Zealand legal sector since early 2018, gaining experience in trusts and estates before being admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2022.

She now focuses her practice on trusts and asset planning (including wills and enduring powers of attorney), wealth protection, relationship property, and applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (PPPR).

Helen has been with Duthie Whyte since 1999. She is a senior Registered Legal Executive, having qualified in 1978, and is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives who is able to take Declarations.

She advises clients on all aspects of estate administration: Probate, Intestate Estates, Estate Planning, Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Elder law (including resthome occupation licences and residential care subsidy application and loans), Family Law, Charitable Trust formations and administration.

Bachelor of Management (Property), Post Grad Dip in Property, University of Auckland

Originally from China Fiona has been exposed to the property market both in China and New Zealand, she provides advice and assist clients in residential & commercial conveyancing matters, refinancing arrangements, Housing New Zealand Home Start Grants and Kiwisaver applications. In addition, Fiona has experience in large scale developments and subdivision matters. Fiona takes pride in being organised and efficient, she aims to deliver the best legal service to clients of Duthie Whyte.

Fiona regularly practices in the following areas: Residential & Commercial Property Conveyancing, Refinancing Arrangements, Kiwisaver Applications, Subdivisions.

Lesley has over 25 years of experience in property law. She qualified as a Registered Legal Executive in 1998 and is now a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives (NZILE). Lesley qualified as a Registered Conveyancing Practitioner in 2018 which further enhanced her skills in property. 

Lesley main areas of expertise are: 

• sale and purchase of residential and commercial real estate
• refinancing of mortgages and restructuring of loans 
• commercial leasing 
• large-and small-scale subdivisions 
• rectification of cross leases titles and conversion of cross lease titles to fee simple 

Lesley loves to build relationships with her clients and prides herself on her effective communication skills and ability to work in an efficient and timely manner.