Rachel joined Travers Smith in 2006 as a knowledge lawyer in the Real Estate team, having been fee earning at Allen & Overy and Macfarlanes since qualifying at A&O in 2000. Rachel’s passion for learning and development (L&D) strengthened in her knowledge role until, in 2017, she became the firm’s first L&D Manager.
In collaboration with our Head of Knowledge, Rachel has designed and implemented the Milestone Development Programme for lawyers, a series of professional skills courses at key stages in the lawyers’ careers, and facilitates firm-wide presentation skills training. For the Business Services community, Rachel has convened wide-ranging training for managers and has collaborated with our Communications team to ensure all our Business Services people are equipped to communicate effectively. She takes an active interest in the SQE and recently took all the partners to Oxford Said Business School for a Leadership course she co-designed with the Head of Knowledge, HR Director and the faculty at Said.
Rachel designs and delivers bespoke professional skills training for clients and practice groups on a range of topics from negotiation skills to effective team working. She is about to gain accreditation as a practitioner of Lumina Spark, a professional profiling tool, which will be invaluable for group off sites, internally or for clients.
Rachel’s declared intention is to help everybody in the firm to be their best professional selves.
Rachel was on the inaugural CSR Art Programme panel, involved in selecting from end of year degree shows the art we display in our public spaces. She now supports the artists in presenting themselves with confidence in public and the corporate environment. In 2006 Rachel set up, and for many years ran, the Reading Scheme at Travers Smith, a rewarding partnership between employees and pupils at Bangabandhu Primary School in Bethnal Green.
Rachel is a member of the Travers Smith LGBTQ+ group.