Rachel has specialised in corporate finance since qualification. She has built up extensive knowledge of particular sectors which has enabled her to work with her clients on the commercial requirements of their businesses. As with the other members of the corporate department, Rachel believes that understanding of the client's business and drivers is the key to the provision of corporate advice coupled with a flexible and always commercial focus.
Specific examples of the work which Rachel has undertaken are set out below:
- Banking and finance work - management of the legal aspects of the banking requirements of a FTSE 100 company including the negotiation of the banking terms and security structure and practical application throughout the term; Working with numerous clients in connection with their financial requirements at various stages from conception and initial funding through to listing.
- Oil and gas - working with various companies in connection with the corporate structures and commercial activities including interface provisions, steam supply agreements, biofuel processing and sourcing of raw materials and plant; grant of direct rights and step in arrangements with funders; co-operation agreements with neighbouring facilities for rights to construct.
- Telecommunications - working with the legal department of a listed/FTSE 100 telecommunications company on all aspects of their corporate and commercial requirements including agreements for the provision of satellite services including uplinking, downlinking, connectivity, leases and sub-leases of space segments, mobile units, government sub-contracts, broadcasting facilities and co-operation agreements, acquisitions, disposals and re-organisations of/for the group.
- IT - working with clients in connection with their corporate structure including sale into and out of a listed company, development of their relationship with major blue chip companies and the evolution of the software products supplied and diversification.
- Food services - working with numerous household name companies in connection with the financing and structure of expansion including rationalisation of the acquired target and integration into the group; licensing franchising and contract manfacture.
- Retail/manufacturing/service providers - working with numerous clients upon the expansion of their business whether organic via investment or by acquisition;
Rachel is also the head of the firm's non-contentious charities team, building on the work she did at Rollits, a practice known nationally for its not for profit sector work. Rachel has extensive experience advising national and local charities including educational establishments. Her expertise encompasses incorporation and structure of charities, sale and purchase of assets, creation of relationships with funders and other third parties, advice in connection with procurement tenders and facility management issues, and all general contractual issues.
In particular Rachel recognises the increasing need for charities to focus on the same commercial issues as her corporate clients both in respect of commercialisation of assets but also risk management.
Specific examples of Rachel’s work in this sector include:
- Advice upon the long term supply of goods by a charity for distribution to beneficiaries and the subsequent drafting of the contract and tender documentation (annual spend by the charity in the region of £5,000,000).
- Advising in connection with negotiations with local authorities and submission of tenders for outsourced services to charities.
- Grant applications for charitable bodies and advice upon security issues arising.
- Contractual arrangements for facilities management by a charity of its premises and fleet facilities.
- Agency and licensing arrangements for Universities.
- Working with others for the setting up of a charity between numerous parties including local authorities, educational bodies and commercial organisations including capital investment and structural issues
Rachel recognises the unique pressures in the field in which charities operate and is able to balance the specific requirements and regulations, imposed upon charitable and not-for-profit organisations, with their commercial requirements. She regularly works closely with their in-house legal teams and other professional advisers.
Rachel qualified in 1992. Prior to joining Henmans she was a partner at Rollits, one of Yorkshire's leading corporate law firms.