Rachel is ranked as a Leading Junior in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for her Court of Protection work. She appears regularly in complex and often urgent cases across the Court’s health and welfare and property and affairs jurisdictions and accepts instructions from all parties. 

Typical cases include:

• Advising on deprivations of liberty post-AGNI
• Cases involving deprivation of liberty orders with high levels of restrictions
• Capacity assessments, including consideration of fluctuating and anticipatory capacity issues
• Serious medical treatment cases
• Cases involving the transition from Children’s Services to Adult Social Care
• Property and Affairs disputes including arguments about the validity of LPAs, safeguarding issues and Deputyship applications

Rachel also acts in cases where the inherent jurisdiction has been invoked and has wide experience of acting for young people subject to deprivations of liberty.

Rachel brings a sensitive yet robust approach to her work and is skilled at dealing effectively and constructively with the often-complex dynamics in cases and between parties.  She is able to provide rapid and pragmatic advice in cases, including those where public bodies are considering how to protect a vulnerable individual.  

Rachel has extensive experience in civil litigation and in particular personal injury, property and housing law.  She was ranked in each year of application to the Legal 500 for her property work, and her expertise, both with regards to law and procedure, complements her property and affairs Court of Protection practice.

Rachel has a particular interest in cases affecting neurodivergent individuals and how the Court can better identify, support, and promote their access to justice and best interests.

Rachel accepts a range of instructions under the Mental Health Act 1983 including Tribunal hearings and appeals, advisory work and acting for parties in displacement of nearest relative applications.  Rachel attends both in-person hearings (including those taking place at High-Security psychiatric hospitals) and those taking place remotely. 

Rachel is widely praised for her sensitivity when working with vulnerable individuals and her ability to balance a firm and strategic litigation approach with collaboration, where it best serves the client.

Rachel has delivered a number of training sessions, including bespoke in-person events for in-house legal teams.

Selected Cases

• Re H – acted for the local authority in Hayden J’s last reported case as VP for the Court of Protection in a case involving fluctuating capacity, deprivation of liberty, and risk of sexual harm
• Re CG – instructed in an urgent High Court application regarding withdrawal of life-saving medical treatment
• Re ZA – instructed in long-running proceedings involving 5 parties, 5-day fact finding hearing and contested best interest decisions on residence, care and contact
• Re AP - represented the local authority in proceedings regarding a young person transitioning from children’s services and subject to 4:1 supervision and restraint
• Re BM – represented family members in a contentious property and affairs dispute regarding capacity, validity of LPAs and application for revocation of LPAs due to conduct
• Re RM & Others – instructed by the Official Solicitor in a suite of cases concerning learning disabled and autistic adults placed, as young children, in psychiatric institutions in the 1960s
• Re Hickmott – represented the NHS Foundation Trust in a case concerning an autistic man detained under the Mental Health Act for over two decades
• Re CH – represented the Deputy in a case concerning disputed property ownership
• Re ZE – instructed on behalf of patient in a complex mental health case concerning options for treatment of P’s eating disorder
• Re AG – represented a patient in long-term detention under s37/41 MHA 1983 at Broadmoor Hospital

Rachel acts in a range of inquests, including those engaging Article 2. 

Rachel has acted for a range of Interested Persons but particularly represents bereaved families.  She has advised and acted for families at all stages of the inquest process, including on a Direct Public Access basis, from providing initial advice before the listing of any hearings to drafting submissions for pre-inquest review hearings and being instructed as counsel for final jury hearings. 

Rachel has also been instructed to assist leading counsel, including in the drafting of written submissions.

Her compassionate yet robust approach, thorough preparation, and clear advocacy make her well-suited to the coronial process and her expertise in the Court of Protection and mental health fields makes her particularly adept at acting in inquests that touch upon social/health care, disability and mental health issues. 

With her experience in civil and personal injury litigation, Rachel is also well-placed to act in inquests touching upon deaths arising from medical treatment and to advise on potential civil claims.

Rachel has experience in multi-week jury and Article 2 inquests and has a reputation for approaching traumatised and vulnerable individuals, including family members and witnesses, sensitively and effectively. 

Selected Cases

• Represented the family of a male who died in prison custody after obtaining and taking illicit drugs
• Represented the family of a mentally vulnerable male shot by police
• Represented the family of a young male who died after absconding from a psychiatric unit
• Represented the family of a young male who died from self-inflicted injuries sustained whilst in custody
• Represented the family of an elderly woman who died in hospital after suspected neglect by carers
• Represented a local authority in an inquest concerning a young man who sustained fatal injuries shortly after release from police custody
• Represented a public body in an inquest concerning a man who suffered a heart attack within weeks of receiving the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine
• Represented a local authority in an inquest concerning a disabled woman who died after an accident in sheltered housing accommodation

Rachel is instructed on a range of cases including those involving a challenge against commissioning decisions made by public bodies.  She undertakes work at all stages including pre-action advice, drafting and advocacy. 

Rachel also accepts instructions from local authorities in cases involving disputes over ordinary residence and responsibility for funding P’s care and support.
 

“Capacity, decision making, and the interplay with alcohol and substance abuse” (co-authored with Anogika Souresh), October [2023] Fam Law 1202

• “She is a brilliant advocate, a reassuring and capable presence in court, and extremely knowledgeable in this area of law” (Legal 500, 2026)
• “An outstanding, diligent advocate” (Chambers & Partners, 2026)
• “Rachel is excellent. She is quick to grasp the key issues and is a forceful advocate” (Chambers & Partners, 2026)
• “Rachel is very communicative and responsive… She thinks deeply about the facts of the case and the possible options available to the parties to seek a suitable resolution for all involved. Her advocacy is strong and clear” (Legal 500, 2025)
• “Rachel is clear and concise.  She always ensures that she understands the client’s needs from the outset” (Legal 500, 2024)
• “Rachel provides a clear advice which goes over and above the initial instructions given by the client.  She provides a quick turnaround on advice” (Legal 500, 2023)
• “I was certainly very impressed by Ms Baker’s contribution in court yesterday, which clearly helped turn the tide in our favour” (Client testimonial, 2024)
• “We have nothing but praise for Rachel.  She was very professional but at the same time made us feel very at ease.  She explained the court process we would go through, helped us with the paperwork and kept in touch right up to the trial date. On the day she was just brilliant” (Direct Access Client, 2023)