Barrister Profile

Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings

Rachel has experience in care proceedings and is able to accept instructions on a variety of matters from any party.

Rachel has represented both Mothers and Fathers during care proceedings and has also represented parents in the High Court. She is able to deal with vulnerable parties or those with learning disabilities. Rachel has experience at all stages of proceedings, from EPO to final hearing and has experience in representing parties in multi-day final hearings. Rachel also has experience in representing other parties such as grandparents.

Rachel is also able to represent Local Authorities and has the ability to draft thorough case summaries and thresholds if necessary. She is confident in grasping the key issues in a case in a timely manner.

Rachel is also able to represent Children through their Guardians within care proceedings, having had experience of doing so.

She also has experience in dealing with Emergency Protection Orders and Interim Care Orders and is able to accept instructions from any party at short notice.

Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989

Rachel regularly represents applicants and respondents in applications made under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. These include Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders. She is able to accept instructions at all stages of dispute, from first hearings to contested final hearings, having represented some of her clients at every stage of their proceedings. Her confident and feisty attitude has left her clients requesting that Rachel represent them again.

Rachel is able to deal with vulnerable parties and regularly deals with those who have been subject to domestic abuse. She is able to manage parties’ expectations, whilst being alive to the stress of their situation. Rachel can also sensitively handle allegations during Fact-Finding hearings whilst fiercely putting her case.

Rachel is also able to deal with urgent applications and has successfully obtained prohibited steps orders on an urgent basis.

As well as representing parents, Rachel also has experience in representing children through their Guardians under 16.4 of the Family Procedure Rules in matters relating to contact disputes between parents.

Rachel also has experience in declarations of parentage applications, representing an applicant who wished for a declaration of parentage in relation to a deceased respondent.

Domestic violence & injunctions

Rachel has a wealth of experience in dealing with applicants and respondents in domestic abuse matters resulting in non-molestation orders and occupation orders. Rachel has succeeded in obtaining both non-molestation orders and occupation orders on an ‘ex-parte’ (without notice) basis. She is able to recognise and balance the effect of such orders with other concerns parties may have such as children of the family or further living arrangements.

Rachel can accept instructions at short notice and is able to handle cases at all stages, from first hearing to final hearings, recognising that continuity of counsel is important to many. She also has experience in dealing with vulnerable clients, including those with learning difficulties.

Rachel has experience of representing parties in financial remedy proceedings. She has experience in representing clients that she has also represented in other matters such as Children Act matters, which gives her ability to have a full understanding of the family background.

Rachel is also able to consider the effect other proceedings have on financial proceedings, having represented clients who have other proceedings already in the Court arena or who have other applications pending.

Rachel has experience in representing both Claimants and Defendants in small claim matters, being successful in both. This includes successfully establishing liability in relation to Road Traffic Accidents and successful defending Credit Hire claims. Rachel also has experience in small claim matters involving flight delays and the EU regulations surrounding such claims.

Rachel also has experience in appeal work, having represented a client on an appeal from the DVLA in the Magistrates Court.

Commercial Chancery

Contractual Disputes: Rachel has experience in dealing with contractual disputes involving the Consumer Rights Act 2015. For example, she has successfully defended a claim and succeeded in a subsequent counterclaim in relation to building works.

Commercial Disputes

Rachel has experience in dealing with procedural matters in relation to commercial disputes. She also has experience with interim applications such as setting aside default judgment and strike out applications. Rachel can also deal with costs issues, both during proceedings and following judgment.

Rachel represents both claimants and defendants in MOJ Stage 3 hearings dealing with quantum. She has experience in dealing with multiple injuries as a result of accidents leading to high value claims within the MOJ portal. Rachel has also dealt with employers’ liability claims in respect of quantum. She has represented Claimants and has successfully beaten her own offers leading to costs orders and additional awards being made against the Defendants.

Rachel is also able to deal with liability in Personal Injury Claims. She has been involved in cases involving claims for industrial deafness, as well as representing parties involved in Road Traffic Accidents. She has also been involved in cases involving Fundamental Dishonesty.

She also has experience in infant settlement hearings and has represented children of all ages. Her cases include children who have been involved in Road Traffic Accidents as well as holiday sickness claims. Rachel has also represented children in relation to Human Rights Claims against a Local Authority. Rachel has the ability to advise on quantum in relation to infant settlements, and being able to follow that through in Court.

In relation to multi-track claims, Rachel has represented parties at CCMC’s, including a case with multiple defendants.

Rachel is also able to draft pleadings in this area, having had experience of drafting Particulars of Claim in personal injury claims involving Road Traffic Accidents and claims against travel companies. She can also advise on the prospects of success on a claim and also advise on quantum.

Real property

Rachel has experience in possession disputes in residential property. Rachel has successfully defended an immediate order for sale of a home being made in respect of an unpaid debt.

Social Housing

Rachel also has experience in acting for Social housing companies. Rachel has represented the social landlord in applications for possession, as well as for other matters such as civil injunctions.

Landlord and tenant

Rachel is able to act in possession proceedings, having acted for both landlords and tenants during her time at Chambers. In respect of landlords, she has managed to negotiate and secure possession of a property on behalf of a private landlord. With tenants, she has managed to prevent a possession order being made on the first occasion, forcing the matter to a final hearing and setting the appropriate directions.

Rachel is able to deal with vulnerable parties in this area, having dealt with cases where a party’s capacity has been at issue.