Following her admission to the bar in 2006, Rachael worked in the litigation department of a leading national law firm for two years (Bell Gully). She went on to work with a senior barrister for four years on a range of serious criminal and regulatory proceedings.

Rachael’s regulatory experience has included investigations and prosecutions by the Financial Markets Authority, the Commerce Commission, the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, as well as prosecutions on behalf of WorkSafe New Zealand.

Before joining Richmond Chambers in June 2019, Rachael spent five years at a boutique insurance law firm (Robertsons), where her focus was predominantly on professional indemnity matters, including both civil and disciplinary proceedings for solicitors, accountants, real estate agents, financial advisers and engineers.

Rachael combines a practical strategic approach with incisive legal analysis and an eye for detail. Rachael was recognised in the 2019 Asia-Pacific Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Lawyer”, with clients describing her as “highly intelligent, very thorough and extremely well-organised”.

LEGLER v FORMANNOIJ [2021] NZHC 1271

Junior counsel for defendants facing claims of of fraud on a power in respect of their role as trustees/directors in relation to a family trust structure. All claims successfully defended.

R v SPEEDY [2021] NZDC 12306

Counsel for defendant in successful application to have charges under the Resource Management Act (of permitting contraventions of the Act) dismissed.

SPROULL v WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND [2021] NZHC 902

Counsel for WorkSafe in response to appeal of conviction and sentence. All aspects of appeal dismissed.

X v Y (2021)

Junior counsel in civil infrastructure arbitration arising from dispute between neighbouring parties, which shared common infrastructure. Extent of obligations under contract, availability of extensions of time under construction contract, and issues of quantum.

LI v 110 FORMOSA NZ LTD & ORS [2019] NZHC 1083

Junior counsel for defendants facing claims of breach of trust, knowing assistance, monies had and received and negligent breach of statutory duty. All claims successfully defended and allegations of dishonesty rejected.

COMMERCE COMMISSION v X (2019)

Junior counsel for defendants/applicants, seeking to have potentially damaging evidence excluded under s30 of the Evidence Act. Defendants’ application was successful.