Rachel specialises in projects and procurement matters, with a particular focus on construction.
Sectors Rachel specialises in include construction and procurement.
Rachel has built up extensive non-contentious construction experience and works across a range of construction contracts.
She advises clients regularly on the use of JCT, NEC3 and NEC4, and alliancing standard form contracts together with preparing all ancillary documentation.
She provides end-to-end support commencing at the procurement strategy phase all the way through to project completion.
Rachel has advised extensively on the Building Safety Act since its implementation in 2022, assisting her clients to navigate the various requirements introduced.
Rachel is also a skilled mediator and uses her experience and expertise to help parties find practical, lasting solutions to their disputes. She combines her in-depth understanding of commercial realities with insight into project relationships and pressures within the construction and procurement sectors, enabling her to guide discussions calmly and constructively.
Rachel’s role:
Rachel plays an active role in the firm’s dedicated adjudication unit, SP Adjudication, and has advised in relation to issues such as interim application disputes, final payment disputes, defects liability and overpayment claims.
Skills and strengths:
Rachel provides solutions-focused legal advice, with an emphasis on proactive engagement with her clients and management of legal and commercial risks. The projects that Rachel advises on invariably involve multiple stakeholders, numerous commercial risks and considerations, and tight deadlines.
Client testimonials:
“Rachel Murray-Smith is an outstanding lawyer, is very personable and provides advice which whilst always legally correct, is also commercially based.” — Legal 500 2023
“I came in for the training on Friday and thought it was one of the best third-party training sessions I have attended. The speakers were really good, especially Rachel who clearly knows this area so well.” — West Sussex County Council
“Rachel is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and always willing to help. She’s been a real asset to our project and we value both her advice and her approach.” — Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames