Sylvia Cheah



Partner


sylvia.cheah@ah.co.nz

+64 9 920 6467

+64 21 920 647

Auckland

Sylvia commenced practice in 1990, and has a wealth of knowledge in everything property. She acts for developers and investors in a variety of greenfield, apartment and integrated developments. She also works with cross border investors into New Zealand and assists them to navigate overseas investor legislation and obtain consents.

Clients find Sylvia approachable, and value her practical and strategic legal advice. She listens and understands her client’s legal needs, and works with them to provide options and solutions. Sylvia is multi-cultural and multi-lingual, speaking English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Hokkien, and basic French.

Sylvia’s projects range from iconic luxury apartments and townhouses to the redevelopment of commercial property and multi-staged integrated developments. Her experience and creativity are useful in developing strategies and options for various scenarios. She is willing to learn new perspectives and collaborates well with others to ensure the best outcome.

Clients describe Sylvia as a professional, experienced and hands-on lawyer who is efficient and takes time to understand their needs. She has a reputation for having a depth of experience and providing a good mix of practical and strategic advice. She has long term contacts in the New Zealand community and draws on that knowledge to facilitate solutions. She is well versed in cross border investments and helps clients to navigate the complex issues by providing options and solutions.

Along with her team, Sylvia is hands on and proactive, and clients feel confident that their needs are well looked after. Her passion and curiosity are assets and she provides a personalised service in a crowded legal market. Sylvia has chosen not to be listed on any leading lawyers list and she acts for the more discreet clients with most of them coming from personal referrals.


Key Transactions

Acted:

  • For Sanctuary Developments No. 8 Limited on the $200 million redevelopment of a commercial building into a luxury apartment complex, "The International". Acted on the purchase of the site, pre-sales, complex unit title subdivision, and settlement of all sales, spanning from 2016-2021.
  • For The One Property Group in its various greenfield developments, and on the purchase of the sites, pre-sales, subdivision, and incorporating of suitable structures and settlement of all pre-sales. The developments each vary from boutique to over 100 homes.


Credentials

Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Canterbury

Masters in Commercial Law, (Hons), University of Auckland


Admission to the Bar

Christchurch, 1990


Professional Memberships

New Zealand Law Society, Member


Sylvia enjoys reading, cooking and travel. She loves design and art, architecture and hotels and enjoys languages.

Contributed Articles

  • Property transactions in a time of challenge

    Our property team has been working through the national state of emergency and lockdown. Below are some questions we have been fielding from our clients and we hope our answers will assist those in a limbo. We assume that the standard form ADLS Agreement for Sale and Purchase has been used. The best advice for […]