Rachel accepts instructions in all of Chambers' main areas of practice. Rachel has appeared before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court (unled). Before coming to Blackstone, she worked as a lawyer at a leading law reform NGO for two years and was a Judicial Assistant to Lord Reed in the UK Supreme Court.

Rachel has been described by solicitors as "a star"; "on a different level"; "extremely bright and hard working" and having a "first-rate mind".

Rachel is on the Executive Committee for the Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA). She also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the MPTS.

Experience

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Public & Regulatory

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of public law. She has particular expertise in judicial review and human rights law and was instructed as an adviser to the Independent Human Rights Act Review in 2021. Rachel also has extensive experience of regulatory matters, having been seconded to Ofgem in 2020.

Rachel worked on numerous public and constitutional law appeals as a Judicial Assistant in the Supreme Court, including Pham v SSHD [2015] 1 WLR 1591 (concerning the deprivation of citizenship and proportionality review under EU and common law).

Cases

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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ civil liberties and human rights practice, including applications before the European Court of Human Rights.

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Commercial

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of commercial litigation.

Rachel also worked on commercial law appeals as a Judicial Assistant in the UK Supreme Court, including: Arnold v Britton [2015] AC 1619 (as to the proper approach to contractual interpretation), ParkingEye Limited v Beavis [2016] AC 1172 (concerning penalty clauses), Anson v Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2015] 4 All ER 288 (as to the UK/US Double Taxation Convention 2001).

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Professional Discipline

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers' Professional Discipline practice. Rachel also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the MPTS, giving her an invaluable perspective into professional regulatory proceedings.

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Sport

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers' Sports practice.

Rachel has a particular interest in safeguarding and disciplinary proceedings, and also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the MPTS.

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Employment

Rachel accepts instructions on all aspects of employment law and has acted for both Claimants and Respondents. Rachel also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the MPTS, bringing an invaluable perspective on disciplinary proceedings.

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Environment

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of environment law. 

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EU & Competition

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of EU and competition law.

Before coming to Blackstone, Rachel taught EU law at Balliol College, Oxford. Rachel was seconded to Ofgem for 3 months in 2020, advising on a range of matters relating to the new price control and to judicial review.

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Public International Law

Rachel accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers' public international law practice. Rachel has been instructed in numerous applications before the European Court of Human Rights.

Rachel also worked on appeals raising various international law issues as a Judicial Assistant in the UK Supreme Court, including: Pham v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] 1 WLR 1591 (as to the 1954 UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons), and Anson v Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2015] 4 All ER 288 (concerning the UK/US Double Taxation Convention 2001).

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Achievements

Education

  • BA Law with Law Studies in Europe (Oxon, First Class Honours, 3rd in year)
  • LLM (LSE, Distinction, 1st in year)
  • LLM (Harvard, Kennedy Scholar)

Prizes and scholarships

  • Phoenicia Scholarship (Bar European Group, 2018)
  • Dean's Scholar Prize (Harvard Law School, 2016)
  • Kennedy Scholarship (Kennedy Memorial Trust, 2015-16)
  • Lord Denning Scholarship, Hardwicke Entrance Award (Lincoln's Inn, 2012)
  • Lawyers' Alumni Prize for highest mark in the year (LSE, 2012)
  • 11KBW Prize for highest mark in human rights law (LSE, 2012)
  • Falcon Chambers Prize for Land Law (University of Oxford, 2011)
  • Balliol College scholar (2009-2011)

Publications

  • "The Supreme Court’s decision in Unwired Planet –what comes next?" (2020) Comp. Law J. 19(4)
  • “Innovations in personally-delivered advice: surveying the landscape” (2018) JUSTICE, available here
  • "Applications to Set Aside Permission to Appeal and the Duty of Candour: R (Mohammad Shahzad Khan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWCA Civ 416”  (2017) 22 Judicial Review 157-164
  • “Planning, confiscation orders and ‘criminal lifestyle’: a square peg for a round hole?”  (2014) 9 Journal of Planning and Environmental Law 972-978

Appointments

  • Legally Qualified Chair for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (2023-2027)

Volunteering and Pro Bono

  • Rachel regularly acts pro bono, including taking cases through the ADVOCATE scheme (formerly known as the Bar Pro Bono Unit).

Moots

  • UK Environmental Law Association Moot (2014) - winner (judged by Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill)
  • European Law Moot Court (2012) - reached the regional semi-finals (in English and French)

News

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