Who we are

Get to know us

With lawyers and legal executives across both offices, we are equipped with a wide range of legal knowledge and experience.

We welcome everyone into our offices, whether you're coming straight from the office, school drop off or the farm — step inside so we can get started and get you sorted right away.

Contact Us

P06 368 9239

Levin

28 Queen Street
Levin, New Zealand, 5510

Wellington

Level 3, Solnet House, 70 The Terrace,
Wellington, 6011

Meet the People

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Doug Rowan - CSLaw

Doug Rowan

LLB/BA

P06 366 0171

Hi, I'm Doug.
I'm a Director and I specialise in Commercial, Estates, General Law, Relationship Property, Rural and Trusts.

Doug joined CS Law in 1996 after graduating from Victoria University with an LLB, BA and a BA (Philosophy). Doug is the first Director of CS Law after Cullinane Steele incorporated having become a partner in 2003.

Doug practices in the areas of commercial and property law, trusts, wills, estates and relationship property specialising in business transactions, commercial lending and advice on asset protection and business structures. Having grown up on a dairy farm Doug has a particular interest in rural transactions.

Doug is married to Hannah and has two teenage daughters. He is the Chair of Te Hinaki Education Trust and is passionate about improving educational outcomes for all children in Horowhenua.

He values the role Christian faith has in his life and in his spare time he is a keen Cricket and Rugby fan, enjoys a good bike ride and relaxing with a book or the paper!

Frances Shaw

LL.B (Hons)

P06 366 0026

Hi, I'm Frances.
I'm an Associate and I specialise in Estates, General Law and Trusts.

Frances joined CS Law in November 2017 after previously working at National Australia Bank, Russell McVeagh, Westpac and in the family business.

Frances graduated LL.B (Hons) from the University of Auckland.

Frances has come back to live in Palmerston North after twenty years living in Singapore and the UK and has two adult daughters.

In her spare time she enjoys gardening, dog-walking and the gym.

Sarah Steer

LLB/BA

P06 366 0002

Hi, I'm Sarah.
I'm a Solicitor and I specialise in Estates

Sarah joined CS Law in 2020 and works in the Estates Team.

Sarah graduated from Victoria University with a LLB and a BA majoring in English Literature and History. After working in the Community Law sector Sarah accompanied her husband to North Carolina where she worked in Intellectual Property before starting a family. Sarah later spent time in Singapore before returning to New Zealand with her family to live in Palmerston North.

During her time in Palmerston North Sarah has been involved with her four children’s kindergarten and school communities and has enjoyed teaching music to young children and being involved in her church community. In her spare time Sarah can often be found watching her children play sport, gardening or reading a good book.

Helen Sharpe

P06 366 0177

Hi, I'm Helen.
I'm a Registered Legal Executive and I specialise in Estates

Helen is an integral part of our Estate Administration Team and attends to all aspects of this area of law. She is also proficient in residential property transactions and can assist you with any enquiries you may have.

Helen began her legal career in 1988 as a legal secretary in a Wellington law firm. Helen also studied to become a legal executive for which she qualified in 1999. In April 2012 Helen joined the team at CS Law.

Helen is a Fellow member of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives and the New Zealand Law Society.

In her spare time Helen enjoys spending time with family and friends and working on her property.

Heather Hutchison

Dip.LegalExec

P06 368 9239

Hi, I'm Heather.
I'm a Registered Legal Executive and I specialise in Estates

Heather joined CS Law in September 2020 after spending 18 years working in various administration roles in the Real Estate industry in Auckland and Levin. Heather completed her Legal Executive Diploma in 2023 and has experience in property and estates. Currently Heather is working as a Registered Legal Executive in our Estates Team.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her two children and relaxing with family and friends.

Our people and story

CS Law (formerly Cullinane Steele) have been looking after individuals, families and businesses for generations, delivering practical advice so you can make important decisions with confidence.

Our Litigators, Solicitors, Legal Executives and support staff have a wide range of experience and knowledge. We are equipped to handle your needs, with a portfolio of commercial business, property, litigation, family and rural clients, we are big on service and trade on our reputation. In 2021 CS Law established a litigation team enabling CS Law to offer a one-stop legal service to our clients. Our litigation team can deal with your criminal, family, relationship or Hague Convention cases.

2022 sees us open a second office in the Wellington CBD to allow us to service our Wellington based clients, and providing more choice for our Kapiti Coast clients, now having the choice to travel in either direction. CS Law prides itself on offering practical advice and effective solutions.

Talk to the experts and we will look after you.

Associations

As a member of NZ Law we are in touch with law firms all around the country, ensuring that we have the latest legal information at our fingertips.

Member firms practise in a wide range of legal disciplines ranging from business law, home buying and selling, immigration law and intellectual property to aviation law, viticulture and tourism. Cullinane Steele is able to utilise the services of NZ Law legal experts from across the country in order to solve your unique legal problem.