Rachael has quickly established herself as one of Scotland’s top commercial mediators. Since becoming a full-time mediator in January 2020, she has mediated over 50 commercial, civil and workplace disputes totalling over 400 hours of mediation time. She is the founder of Squaring Circles, winner of the UK National Mediation Awards Newcomer of the Year 2020.
Before becoming a full-time mediator, for 12 years Rachael practised as a dispute resolution solicitor at Burness Paull and Addleshaw Goddard, representing negotiating parties in mediations and solicitor to solicitor negotiations of commercial disputes ranging in value from tens of thousands to multimillion pound claims.
Reflecting her former practice as a solicitor, Rachael is routinely instructed in a broad range of commercial disputes. She has a particularly strong reputation in professional negligence, construction, insolvency, partnership, boardroom, family business, rural, property and employment disputes. She handles disputes across the UK involving corporates, insurers, private, public and third sector clients.
Rachael is a registered civil and commercial mediator with the Civil Mediation Council and Scottish Mediation; a certified Level 3 Mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI); a panel mediator for the PNLA; a Member of CIArb; an accredited online mediator; and an alumnus of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and the MLC at the Strauss Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. She is also an RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator.
Rachael was elected to the Scottish Land Commission mediation panel in January 2021 and teaches negotiation skills on the Online LLM at the University of Aberdeen, a UK top-10 law school.
Partner, commercial law firm
"Rachael grasps issues quickly and is excellent at building rapport. She is just what you want in a serious commercial mediator."
Partner, commercial law firm
"Rachael very quickly grasps complex technical points and shows tenacity in helping the parties to come to a resolution."
Associate, international law firm
"Rachael is very effective in helping the parties tackle tricky legal issues while never losing track of the commercial realities. She quickly hones in on what really matters to each side."
Senior Lawyer, City Firm
“Thank you again for yesterday. [The client] is very happy with the result and very glad it is all over. I also very much appreciated your skill and patience. I hope we get the chance to work together in the future.”
