Rachel is a family law barrister and specialist mediator with over 15 years’ experience in disputes involving children.

She has appeared for parents and children in numerous complex disputes, including over 70 cases in the High Court acting for the Official Solicitor (the independent statutory office holder appointed to look after the interests of vulnerable individuals in Court).

She has extensive experience of private residence and contact disputes, applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction, and cases of child abduction.

After graduating from the London School of Economics and the University of London, Rachel was called to the Bar in 1989. After several successful years as an advocate, followed by a career break to start a family, her interests expanded into alternative dispute resolution, an area in which she now specialises.

In 1999 she qualified as a Family Mediator with the Family Mediation Association and in 2009 she completed further mediation qualifications with Resolution, where course leaders praised her “natural warmth “ and her ability to “capture and summarise clients' ideas and thoughts.” She is one of a very small number of legal practitioners to have specific training in direct consultation with children during mediation.

Described by clients as proactive, friendly and extremely hard working, Rachel says:

“I’m more interested in getting a practical outcome than in the legal contest. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than reaching a successful conclusion for my client.”

Rachel lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, fellow barrister Nicholas Cusworth QC, and their two children.