Rachel is a barrister specialising in employment law, health and safety, medicolegal, sports law, professional misconduct, and human rights. In addition to advising and advocating on behalf of clients, she is also a trained mediator/facilitator and workplace investigator.
Rachel has practised law for over twenty-five years in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She has worked in both the public and private sector. In addition to her legal roles, Rachel has also been a professional singer and actor, worked as a press assistant at Edinburgh Arts Festival and spent time working in Retail Banking Executive Search – so she brings a broad lens and understanding to her work.
Rachel has a varied practice that sees her advocate in the Authority and Courts, assisting clients as an independent mediator and with early intervention facilitation, and she has acted as an independent counsel in many large-scale reviews and investigations.
Rachel works across New Zealand, assisting government departments, crown entities, private enterprises, startups, and senior employees. She enjoys providing client workshops and training and is a frequent conference speaker. Recently she has spoken on issues such as mental health and wellbeing at work, restorative practice in the workplace, and establishing a framework for effective workplace investigations.
Qualifications
- Degrees: LLB/BA (Hons), MA
- Admission to High Court NZ – 1999
- Solicitor England and Wales – 2003
Certificates/Diplomas
- LEADR/Resolution Institute of NZ – Mediator - 2009
- Association of Workplace Investigators AWI – North America Certificate – 2018
- Restorative Practice Facilitation – Victoria University – 2023
Roles and Leadership
- Expert Panel - Mediator and Investigator - Sports & Recreation Complaint and Mediation Service 2023 to current
- Chair of the National Employment & Privacy Committee of the NZ Bar Council July 2022 – current
- Mentor NZLS
- Former Chair of the Women in Law Committee, NZLS – 2010-2012
