Colette Mackenzie - Solicitor

About Colette Mackenzie

Career to date

"I graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1996, and was admitted to the bar in 1997. I joined Gibson Sheat in 2008 from a management position with a legal publishing company in which I developed cutting-edge case law and current awareness services."

Colette specialises in property law.  She completes a wide range of transactions from residential conveyancing and trusts to development and subdivision work.  Colette also has considerable relationship property experience including separation, and contracting out agreements.

My recent work

My focus on relationship property work has increased recently as I have absorbed some of (late partner) Martin Montague's practice.  I continue to complete trust and general property work.

My approach to working with my clients

I try and put my clients at ease. Dealing with the law and lawyers is often daunting, so I take a relaxed, friendly, and "plain english" approach, and aim to help clients understand what's going on, every step of the way.

An instance when I've given a client a real competitive edge

Setting up a Trust in time to settle the purchase of a house - all within two weeks!

The best piece of advice I've ever been given

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you".

What stimulates me

Helping people with problems and getting a solution for them. I enjoy using my experience and knowledge of the law, to help other people achieve their goals.

I like taking on a challenge and, probably my most challenging experience to date has been completing two complex simultaneous and interdependent subdivisions which involved removing a "limitation as to parcels" and some old encumbrances from the titles, at the same time as a boundary adjustment, and having to work out what to do with some landlocked land.  Having said that, every client and every file is different, and presents its own unique challenges, which makes them all interesting and enjoyable to work on.

What I enjoy outside of work

I’m a very keen hockey player, having represented Wellington at both indoor and outdoor hockey. I still play premier hockey for the Victoria University of Wellington Hockey Club and have done so since 1991. I also love to spend time with my family.

If I wasn’t a lawyer I’d be…

An historian; because I enjoy learning about the past, how the past repeats itself, and the impact of the past on the present.