Rachel Richardson gained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Newcastle University and her Legal Practice Certificate at the College of Law, York. She then trained as a solicitor with Shranks in London, after which she joined Wollastons (now Birketts) in East Anglia as an Associate, specialising in employment law.

In 2006 Rachel returned to Northern Ireland, where she joined a specialist employment law practice as a solicitor, before moving to become a Director at Tughans and then to DWF as a Director, where she led the employment team in Northern Ireland. With more than 20 years' post-qualification experience, she has worked in both the private sector with small organisations and plcs and also in the public sector.

She provides employment law advice in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain which, for example, has enabled her to advise a large engineering company with subsidiaries in both regions. Similarly, a large food and drinks manufacturer turned to Rachel when it needed advice on the swift exit of senior executives in Britain and Northern Ireland. She has advised many businesses in relation to their obligations under TUPE, often under very tight time constraints. She also provides advice on all aspects of managing employees and the relevant law, including drafting of employment documentation, disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy and restructuring and compromise and settlement agreements.

She has defended a wide variety of tribunal claims in the Employment Tribunal in Great Britain and in the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland, including defending a large aircraft manufacturer from complex whistle-blowing claims and a telecommunications company from a complex discrimination claim. Rachel has delivered seminars and presentations on different employment law issues and regularly provides training to businesses, she is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.