Rachel Barnes - Partner Degree Law 1972 Qualified as solicitor 1975 Partner in Beale and Company 1977 Admitted in Ireland Admitted in Northern Ireland 2006 Main areas of practice Construction law and contracts Professional indemnity Commercial contracts Email r.barnes@beale-law.com

In her early career Rachel Barnes mainly represented consulting engineers, defending claims brought against them in UK courts or in arbitration proceedings.

Since 1985, Rachel has focused upon advising clients on professional appointments, collateral warranties, building and civil engineering contracts and about novations, joint ventures, health and safety, and environmental liability. Rachel advises on contracts drafted for specific projects in the UK and overseas and has experience of the main standard forms of construction agreements published in the industry or by the public sector. She assisted the Association of Consulting Engineers in drafting both the ACE Conditions of Engagement 1995 and the 2002 and 2004 editions.

Rachel jointly published a book on 'Professional services agreements' and contributes to the section on engineers' appointments in Construction Law Handbook. Rachel is also a regular contributor to Building Magazine, writing on issues that particularly concern consultants.

Rachel has spoken at seminars on many topics, including forms of contract, the CDM Regulations, the Construction Act and its payment provisions and novation agreements. Rachel assisted the Construction Industry Council with the drafting its standard forms of collateral warranties and novation agreement, as well as several of their Liability Briefings.

Rachel is also a member of the Specialist Practice Consultant Panel of the RIBA.

Outside the construction industry, Rachel applies her legal expertise to negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, which have included distribution agreements and advice on competition law. She also advises her private clients on inheritance tax planning, wills and probate.