Rachel Murray-Smith

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’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. Rachel is also a member of the mediation team in the firm’s standalone mediation unit, SP Mediation.

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.

Recognition:

Rachel is recognised as a Next Generation Partner in the independent legal guide, The Legal 500, for her work in Real Estate: Construction: Non-Contentious.