Year of call: 2019
Rachel Senior is developing a practice across employment, commercial law and public inquiries.
She has experience of a broad range of employment litigation, including High Court and Employment Appeal Tribunal work, and is ranked by the Legal 500 as a ‘rising star’ in employment law. She acts for individuals, businesses, charities and public authorities, including local authorities and NHS Trusts. Rachel is regularly instructed in complex multi-day trials involving whistleblowing and discrimination allegations. During pupillage Rachel acted for a Claimant who was awarded what is believed to be the highest-ever Tribunal award for menopause-related discrimination.
Rachel’s commercial work draws on her employment and public law experience, and often involves contractual disputes, issues around discrimination and equalities, and claims for and against public authorities. She is happy to advise on cases involving restrictive covenants and other restraint of trade provisions.
Before joining Chambers, Rachel spent two years with the Government Legal Department and qualified as a solicitor in September 2022. She advised on individual employment cases and wider issues in employment and labour law. Rachel gained experience of High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court litigation, and has extensive experience of Parliament, having advised on and drafted legislation. She is therefore well placed to and regularly advises on matters involving novel legal issues, complex statutory schemes and parallel civil court and Employment Tribunal claims.
Rachel is a member of the Attorney General’s Junior Junior Scheme and acted for a Core Participant in five modules of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. She is currently acting for a Core Participant in the Nottingham Inquiry.
Prior to her time as a civil servant, Rachel spent three years working as a speechwriter and political adviser to Bishops in the House of Lords. She grew up in western Canada and has family ties to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Rachel has a busy employment practice and acts for both Claimants and Respondents across the UK. She has significant experience of complex procedural matters, including privilege, anonymity, strike-out, amendment and costs applications and is regularly instructed in multi-day trials involving whistleblowing and discrimination allegations. Rachel has experience of employment status disputes, issues arising from TUPE transfers, allegations of trade union detriment and applications for interim relief.
Acting for a Claimant in a five-day final hearing and one-day remedy hearing. The Tribunal awarded what is believed to be the largest-ever Tribunal award for menopause-related discrimination.
Acting for a Respondent employer at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, successfully resisting an application for an extension of time to file an appeal.
Acting for a Respondent national firm at a one-day preliminary hearing which involved determination of worker status. Rachel’s applications for strike-out and for the full quantum of the Respondent’s costs were successful.
Acting for a Respondent healthcare provider at am eight-day final hearing. . The case included claims of automatic constructive unfair dismissal, whistleblowing detriment and indirect disability discrimination. The disabilities involved were neurodiverse conditions.
Rachel is a qualified solicitor and trained with the Government Legal Department in London. She has a strong background in public law and judicial review, and while at the Government Legal Department assisted with cases involving trades union, elections and government consultation matters. She also has extensive experience in major UK public inquiries.
Rachel is developing a sports law practice, and during pupillage gained experience of RFU and international squash disciplinary hearings and FA Rule K arbitration. She has a particular interest in safeguarding, discrimination and whistleblowing matters.
Prior to joining Chambers Rachel trained as a solicitor and spent a year advising a Core Participant in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. She acted for a Core Participant in five modules of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, and is currently instructed by the Department of Health and Social Care in the Nottingham Inquiry, led by Fiona Scolding KC.. Having experienced public inquiries from both an ‘in house’ and external counsel perspective Rachel is well-placed to advise about inquiry procedure and practical aspects of inquiry preparation. She is also comfortable and familiar with working with high-profile public figures.
Rachel’s commercial practice involves both advisory and litigation work. Owing to her background in employment law and working with public authorities Rachel is well placed to advise on cases involving contractual issues, allegations of discrimination and for and against public authorities. Recently Rachel has acted for a successful Defendant in a one-trial involving commission payments, drafting defences to service discrimination claims and advised a social care provider about means for recovering unpaid invoices following provision of care.
Legal 500 2026
